chronicle of the conquest of granada-第25章

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　captive　before　him　the　monarch　who　had　so　recently　appeared　in　royal　splendor　surrounded　by　an　army；　his　generous　heart　was　touched　by　sympathy。　　He　said　everything　to　comfort　him　that　became　a　courteous　and　Christian　knight；　observing　that　the　same　mutability　of　things　which　had　suddenly　brought　him　low　might　as　rapidly　restore　him　to　prosperity；　since　in　this　world　nothing　is　stable；　and　sorrow；　like　joy；　has　its　allotted　term。

The　action　here　recorded　was　called　by　some　the　battle　of　Lucena；　by　others　the　battle　of　the　Moorish　king；　because　of　the　capture　of　Boabdil。　　Twenty…two　banners；　taken　on　the　occasion；　were　borne　in　triumph　into　Vaena　on　the　23d　of　April；　St。　George's　Day；　and　hung　up　in　the　church。　　There　they　remain　（says　a　historian　of　after　times）　to　this　day。　　Once　a　year；　on　the　festival　of　St。　George；　they　are　borne　about　in　procession　by　the　inhabitants；　who　at　the　same　time　give　thanks　to　God　for　this　signal　victory　granted　to　their　forefathers。*

*Several　circumstances　relative　to　the　capture　of　Boabdil　vary　in　　this　from　the　first　edition；　in　consequence　of　later　light　thrown　　on　the　subject　by　Don　Miguel　Lafuente　Alcantara　in　his　History　of　　Granada。　　He　has　availed　himself　much　of　various　ancient　documents　　relative　to　the　battle；　especially　the　History　of　the　House　of　　Cordova　by　the　abbot　of　Rute；　a　descendant　of　that　familya　rare　　manuscript　of　which　few　copies　exist。


The　question　as　to　the　person　entitled　to　the　honor　and　reward　for　having　captured　the　king　long　continued　a　matter　of　dispute　between　the　people　of　Lucena　and　Vaena。　　On　the　20th　of　October；　1520；　about　thirty…seven　years　after　the　event；　an　examination　of　several　witnesses　to　the　fact　took　place　before　the　chief　justice　of　the　fortress　of　Lucena；　at　the　instance　of　Bartolomy　Hurtado；　the　son　of　Martin；　when　the　claim　of　his　father　was　established　by　Dona　Leonora　Hernandez；　lady　in　attendant　on　the　mother　of　the　alcayde　of　los　Donceles；　who　testified　being　present　when　Boabdil　signalized　Martin　Hurtado　as　his　captor。

The　chief　honor　of　the　day；　and　of　course　of　the　defeat　and　capture　of　the　Moorish　monarch；　was　given　by　the　sovereign　to　the　count　de　Cabra；　the　second　to　his　nephew；　Don　Diego　Fernandez　de　Cordova。

Among　the　curious　papers　cited　by　Alcantara　is　one　existing　in　the　archives　of　the　House　of　Medina　Celi；　giving　the　account　of　the　treasurer　of　Don　Diego　Fernandez　as　to　the　sums　expended　by　his　lord　in　the　capture　of　the　king；　the　reward　given　to　some　soldiers　for　a　standard　of　the　king's　which　they　had　taken；　to　others　for　the　wounds　they　had　received；　etc。

Another　paper　speaks　of　an　auction　at　Lucena　on　the　28th　of　April　of　horses　and　mules　taken　in　the　battle。　　Another　paper　states　the　gratuities　of　the　alcayde　of　los　Donceles　to　the　soldieryfour　fanegas；　or　about　four　hundredweight；　of　wheat　and　a　lance　to　each　horseman；　two　fanegas　of　wheat　and　a　lance　to　each　foot…soldier。



CHAPTER　XVII。

LAMENTATIONS　OF　THE　MOORS　FOR　THE　BATTLE　OF　LUCENA。


The　sentinels　looked　out　from　the　watch…towers　of　Loxa　along　the　valley　of　the　Xenil；　which　passes　through　the　mountains　of　Algaringo。　　They　looked　to　behold　the　king　returning　in　triumph　at　the　head　of　his　shining　host；　laden　with　the　spoil　of　the　unbeliever。　　　They　looked　to　behold　the　standard　of　their　warlike　idol；　the　fierce　Ali　Atar；　borne　by　the　chivalry　of　Loxa；　ever　foremost　in　the　wars　of　the　border。

In　the　evening　of　the　21st　of　April　they　descried　a　single　horseman　urging　his　faltering　steed　along　the　banks　of　the　Xenil。　　As　he　drew　near　they　perceived；　by　the　flash　of　arms；　that　he　was　a　warrior；　and　on　nearer　approach　by　the　richness　of　his　armor　and　the　caparison　of　his　steed　they　knew　him　to　be　a　warrior　of　rank。

He　reached　Loxa　faint　and　aghast；　his　courser　covered　with　foam　and　dust　and　blood；　panting　and　staggering　with　fatigue　and　gashed　with　wounds。　　Having　brought　his　master　in　safety；　he　sank　down　and　died　before　the　gate　of　the　city。　　The　soldiers　at　the　gate　gathered　round　the　cavalier　as　he　stood　by　his　expiring　steed：　they　knew　him　to　be　Cidi　Caleb；　nephew　of　the　chief　alfaqui　of　the　mosque　in　the　Albaycin；　and　their　hearts　were　filled　with　fearful　forebodings。

〃Cavalier；〃　said　they；　〃how　fares　it　with　the　king　and　army？〃

He　cast　his　hand　mournfully　toward　the　land　of　the　Christians。　〃There　they　lie！〃　exclaimed　he。　　〃The　heavens　have　fallen　upon　them。　　All　are　lost！　all　dead！〃*

*Bernaldez　（Cura　de　los　Palacios）；　Hist。　de　los　Reyes　Catol。；　　MS。；　cap。　61。


Upon　this　there　was　a　great　cry　of　consternation　among　the　people；　and　loud　wailings　of　women；　for　the　flower　of　the　youth　of　Loxa　were　with　the　army。

An　old　Moorish　soldier；　scarred　in　many　a　border　battle；　stood　leaning　on　his　lance　by　the　gateway。　　〃Where　is　Ali　Atar？〃　demanded　he　eagerly。　〃If　he　lives　the　army　cannot　be　lost。〃

〃I　saw　his　helm　cleft　by　the　Christian　sword；　his　body　is　floating　in　the　Xenil。〃

When　the　soldier　heard　these　words　he　smote　his　breast　and　threw　dust　upon　his　head；　for　he　was　an　old　follower　of　Ali　Atar。

Cidi　Caleb　gave　himself　no　repose；　but；　mounting　another　steed；　hastened　toward　Granada。　　As　he　passed　through　the　villages　and　hamlets　he　spread　sorrow　around；　for　their　chosen　men　had　followed　the　king　to　the　wars。

When　he　entered　the　gates　of　Granada　and　announced　the　loss　of　the　king　and　army；　a　voice　of　horror　went　throughout　the　city。　　Every　one　thought　but　of　his　own　share　in　the　general　calamity；　and　crowded　round　the　bearer　of　ill　tidings。　　One　asked　after　a　father；　another　after　a　brother；　some　after　a　lover；　and　many　a　mother　after　her　son。　　His　replies　all　spoke　of　wounds　and　death。　　To　one　he　replied；　〃I　saw　thy　father　pierced　with　a　lance　as　he　defended　the　person　of　the　king；〃　to　another；　〃Thy　brother　fell　wounded　under　the　hoofs　of　the　horses；　but　there　was　no　time　to　aid　him；　for　the　Christian　cavalry　were　upon　us；〃　to　another；　〃I　saw　the　horse　of　thy　lover　covered　with　blood　and　galloping　without　his　rider；〃　to　another；　〃Thy　son　fought　by　my　side　on　the　banks　of　the　Xenil：　we　were　surrounded　by　the　enemy　and　driven　into　the　stream。　　I　heard　him　cry　upon　Allah　in　the　midst　of　the　waters：　when　I　reached　the　other　bank　he　was　no　longer　by　my　side。〃

Cidi　Caleb　passed　on；　leaving　all　Granada　in　lamentation：　he　urged　his　steed　up　the　steep　avenue　of　trees　and　fountains　that　leads　to　the　Alhambra；　nor　stopped　until　he　arrived　before　the　Gate　of　Justice。　　Ayxa；　the　mother　of　Boabdil；　and　Morayma；　his　beloved　and　tender　wife；　had　daily　watched　from　the　Tower　of　Comares　to　behold　his　triumphant　return。　　Who　shall　describe　their　affliction　when　they　heard　the　tidings　of　Cidi　Caleb？　　The　sultana　Ayxa　spake　not　much；　but　sat　as　one　entranced。　　Every　now　and　then　a　deep　sigh　burst　forth；　but　she　raised　her　eyes　to　heaven。　　〃It　is　the　will　of　Allah！〃　said　she；　and　with　these　words　endeavored　to　repress　the　agonies　of　a　mother's　sorrow。　　The　tender　Morayma　threw　herself　on　the　earth　and　gave　way　to　the　full　turbulence　of　her　feelings；　bewailing　her　husband　and　her　father。　　The　high…minded　Ayxa　rebuked　the　violence　of　her　grief。　　〃Moderate　these　transports；　my　daughter；〃　said　she；　〃remember　magnanimity　should　be　the　attribute　of　princes：　it　becomes　not　them　to　give　way　to　clamorous　sorrow；　like　common　and　vulgar　minds。〃　　But　Morayma　could　only　deplore　her　loss　with　the　anguish　of　a　tender　woman。　　She　shut　herself　up　in　her　mirador；　and　gazed　all　day　with　streaming　eyes　upon　the　Vega。　　Every　object　recalled　the　causes　of　her　affliction。　　The　river　Xenil；　which　ran　shining　amidst　groves　and　gardens；　was　the　same　on　whose　banks　had　perished　her　father；　Ali　Atar；　before　her　lay　the　road　to　Loxa；　by　which　Boabdil　had　departed；　in　martial　state；　surrounded　by　the　chivalry　of　Granada。　　Ever　and　anon　she　would　burst　into　an　agony　of　grief。　　〃Alas！　my　father！〃　she　would　exclaim；　〃the　river　runs　smiling　before　me　that　covers　thy　mangled　remains；　who　will　gather　them　to　an　honored　tomb　in　the　land　of　the　unbeliever？　　And　thou；　O　Boabdil；　light　of　my　eyes！　joy　of　my　heart！　life　of　my　life！　woe　the　day　and　woe　the　hour　that　I　saw　thee　depart　from　these　walls！　　The　road　by　which　thou　hast　departed　is　solitary；　never　will　it　be　gla