chronicle of the conquest of granada-第22章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　haughty　style；　as　though　he　would　set　both　Heaven　and　earth　at　defiance。　　Another　evil　omen　was　sent　to　deter　him　from　his　enterprise：　arriving　at　the　rambla；　or　dry　ravine；　of　Beyro；　which　is　scarcely　a　bowshot　from　the　city；　a　fox　ran　through　the　whole　army　and　close　by　the　person　of　the　king；　and；　though　a　thousand　bolts　were　discharged　at　it；　escaped　uninjured　to　the　mountains。　　The　principal　courtiers　now　reiterated　their　remonstrances　against　proceeding；　the　king；　however；　was　not　to　be　dismayed　by　these　portents；　but　continued　to　march　forward。*

*Marmol；　Rebel。　de　los　Moros；　lib。　1；　c。　xii。；　fol。　14。


At　Loxa　the　army　was　reinforced　by　old　Ali　Atar　with　the　chosen　horsemen　of　his　garrison　and　many　of　the　bravest　warriors　of　the　border　towns。　　The　people　of　Loxa　shouted　with　exultation　when　they　beheld　Ali　Atar　armed　at　all　points　and　mounted　on　his　Barbary　steed；　which　had　often　borne　him　over　the　borders。　　The　veteran　warrior；　with　nearly　a　century　of　years　upon　his　head；　had　all　the　fire　and　animation　of　youth　at　the　prospect　of　a　foray；　and　careered　from　rank　to　rank　with　the　velocity　of　an　Arab　of　the　desert。　　The　populace　watched　the　army　as　it　paraded　over　the　bridge　and　wound　into　the　passes　of　the　mountains；　and　still　their　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　pennon　of　Ali　Atar　as　if　it　bore　with　it　an　assurance　of　victory。

The　Moorish　army　entered　the　Christian　frontier　by　forced　marches；　hastily　ravaging　the　country；　driving　off　the　flocks　and　herds；　and　making　captives　of　the　inhabitants。　　They　pressed　on　furiously；　and　made　the　latter　part　of　their　march　in　the　night；　to　elude　observation　and　come　upon　Lucena　by　surprise。　　Boabdil　was　inexperienced　in　warfare；　but　had　a　veteran　counsellor　in　his　old　father…in…law；　for　Ali　Atar　knew　every　secret　of　the　country；　and　as　he　prowled　through　it　his　eye　ranged　over　the　land；　uniting　in　its　glare　the　craft　of　the　fox　with　the　sanguinary　ferocity　of　the　wolf。　He　had　flattered　himself　that　their　march　had　been　so　rapid　as　to　outstrip　intelligence；　and　that　Lucena　would　be　an　easy　capture；　when　suddenly　he　beheld　alarm…fires　blazing　upon　the　mountains。　〃We　are　discovered；〃　said　he　to　Boabdil；　〃the　country　will　be　up　in　arms；　we　have　nothing　left　but　to　strike　boldly　for　Lucena：　it　is　but　slightly　garrisoned；　and　we　may　carry　it　by　assault　before　it　can　receive　assistance。〃　　The　king　approved　of　his　counsel；　and　they　marched　rapidly　for　the　gate　of　Lucena。



CHAPTER　XV。

HOW　THE　COUNT　DE　CABRA　SALLIED　FORTH　FROM　HIS　CASTLE　IN　　　　　QUEST　OF　KING　BOABDIL。


Don　Diego　de　Cordova；　count　of　Cabra；　was　in　the　castle　of　Vaena；　which；　with　the　town　of　the　same　name；　is　situated　on　a　lofty　sun…　burnt　hill　on　the　frontier　of　the　kingdom　of　Cordova　and　but　a　few　leagues　from　Lucena。　　The　range　of　mountains　of　Horquera　lies　between　them。　　The　castle　of　Vaena　was　strong　and　well　furnished　with　arms；　and　the　count　had　a　numerous　band　of　vassals　and　retainers；　for　it　behooved　the　noblemen　of　the　frontiers　in　those　times　to　be　well　prepared　with　man　and　horse；　with　lance　and　buckler；　to　resist　the　sudden　incursions　of　the　Moors。　　The　count　of　Cabra　was　a　hardy　and　experienced　warrior；　shrewd　in　council；　prompt　in　action；　rapid　and　fearless　in　the　field。　　He　was　one　of　the　bravest　of　cavaliers　for　an　inroad；　and　had　been　quickened　and　sharpened　in　thought　and　action　by　living　on　the　borders。

On　the　night　of　the　20th　of　April；　1483；　the　count　was　about　to　retire　to　rest　when　the　watchman　from　the　turret　brought　him　word　that　there　were　alarm…fires　on　the　mountains　of　Horquera；　and　that　they　were　made　on　the　signal…tower　overhanging　the　defile　through　which　the　road　passes　to　Cabra　and　Lucena。

The　count　ascended　the　battlement　and　beheld　five　lights　blazing　on　the　towera　sign　that　there　was　a　Moorish　army　attacking　some　place　on　the　frontier。　　The　count　instantly　ordered　the　alarm…bells　to　be　sounded；　and　despatched　couriers　to　rouse　the　commanders　of　the　neighboring　towns。　　He　called　upon　his　retainers　to　prepare　for　action；　and　sent　a　trumpet　through　the　town　summoning　the　men　to　assemble　at　the　castle…gate　at　daybreak　armed　and　equipped　for　the　field。

Throughout　the　remainder　of　the　night　the　castle　resounded　with　the　din　of　preparation。　　Every　house　in　the　town　was　in　equal　bustle；　for　in　these　frontier　towns　every　house　had　its　warrior；　and　the　lance　and　buckler　were　ever　hanging　against　the　wall　ready　to　be　snatched　down　for　instant　service。　　Nothing　was　heard　but　the　din　of　armorers；　the　shoeing　of　steeds；　and　furbishing　up　of　weapons；　and　all　night　long　the　alarm…fires　kept　blazing　on　the　mountains。

When　the　morning　dawned　the　count　of　Cabra　sallied　forth　at　the　head　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　cavaliers　of　the　best　families　of　Vaena；　all　well　appointed；　exercised　in　arms；　and　experienced　in　the　warfare　of　the　borders。　　There　were　besides　twelve　hundred　foot…soldiers；　brave　and　well…seasoned　men　of　the　same　town。　　The　count　ordered　them　to　hasten　forward；　whoever　could　make　most　speed；　taking　the　road　to　Cabra；　which　was　three　leagues　distant。　　That　they　might　not　loiter　on　the　road　he　allowed　none　of　them　to　break　their　fast　until　they　arrived　at　that　place。　　The　provident　count　despatched　couriers　in　advance；　and　the　little　army　on　reaching　Cabra　found　tables　spread　with　food　and　refreshments　at　the　gates　of　the　town。　　Here　they　were　joined　by　Don　Alonso　de　Cordova；　senior　of　Zuheros。

Having　made　a　hearty　repast；　they　were　on　the　point　of　resuming　their　march　when　the　count　discovered　that　in　the　hurry　of　his　departure　from　home　he　had　forgotten　to　bring　the　standard　of　Vaena；　which　for　upward　of　eighty　years　had　always　been　borne　to　battle　by　his　family。　　It　was　now　noon；　and　there　was　no　time　to　return：　he　took；　therefore；　the　standard　of　Cabra；　the　device　of　which　is　a　goat；　and　which　had　not　been　seen　in　the　wars　for　the　last　half　century。　　When　about　to　depart　a　courier　came　galloping　at　full　speed；　bringing　missives　to　the　count　from　his　nephew；　Don　Diego　Fernandez　de　Cordova；　senior　of　Lucena　and　alcayde　de　los　Donceles；*　entreating　him　to　hasten　to　his　aid；　as　his　town　was　beset　by　the　Moorish　king；　Boabdil　el　Chico；　with　a　powerful　army；　who　were　actually　setting　fire　to　the　gates。

*The　〃Donceles〃　were　young　cavaliers　who　had　been　pages　in　　the　royal　household；　but　now　formed　an　elite　corps　in　the　army。


The　count　put　his　little　army　instantly　in　movement　for　Lucena；　which　is　only　one　league　from　Cabra；　he　was　fired　with　the　idea　of　having　the　Moorish　king　in　person　to　contend　with。　　By　the　time　he　reached　Lucena　the　Moors　had　desisted　from　the　attack　and　were　ravaging　the　surrounding　country。　　He　entered　the　town　with　a　few　of　his　cavaliers；　and　was　received　with　joy　by　his　nephew；　whose　whole　force　consisted　but　of　eighty　horse　and　three　hundred　foot。　　Don　Diego　Fernandez　de　Cordova　was　a　young　man；　yet　he　was　a　prudent；　careful；　and　capable　officer。　　Having　learnt；　the　evening　before；　that　the　Moors　had　passed　the　frontiers；　he　had　gathered　within　his　walls　all　the　women　and　children　from　the　environs；　had　armed　the　men；　sent　couriers　in　all　directions　for　succor；　and　had　lighted　alarm…fires　on　the　mountains。

Boabdil　had　arrived　with　his　army　at　daybreak；　and　had　sent　in　a　message　threatening　to　put　the　garrison　to　the　sword　if　the　place　were　not　instantly　surrendered。　　The　messenger　was　a　Moor　of　Granada；　named　Hamet；　whom　Don　Diego　had　formerly　known：　he　contrived　to　amuse　him　with　negotiation　to　gain　time　for　succor　to　arrive。　　The　fierce　old　Ali　Atar；　losing　all　patience；　had　made　an　assault　upon　the　town　and　stormed　like　a　fury　at　the　gate；　but　had　been　repulsed。　Another　and　more　serious　attack　was　expected　in　the　course　of　the　night。

When　the　count　de　Cabra　had　heard　this　account　of　the　situation　of　affairs；　he　turned　to　his　nephew　with　his　usual　alacrity　of　manner；　and　proposed　that　they　should　immediately　sally　forth　in　quest　of　the　enemy。　　The　prudent　Don　Diego　remonstrated　at　the　rashness　of　attacking　so　great　a　force　with　a　mere　handful　of　men。　　〃Nephew；〃　said　the　count；　〃I　came　from　Vaena　with　a　determination　to　fight　this　Moorish　king；　and　I　will　not　be　disappointed。〃

〃At　any　rate；〃　replied　Don　Diego；　〃let　us　wait　but　two　hou