chronicle of the conquest of granada-第26章

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hee　depart　from　these　walls！　　The　road　by　which　thou　hast　departed　is　solitary；　never　will　it　be　gladdened　by　thy　return：　the　mountain　thou　hast　traversed　lies　like　a　cloud　in　the　distance；　and　all　beyond　is　darkness。〃

The　royal　minstrels　were　summoned　to　assuage　her　sorrows：　they　attuned　their　instruments　to　cheerful　strains；　but　in　a　little　while　the　anguish　of　their　hearts　prevailed　and　turned　their　songs　to　lamentations。

〃Beautiful　Granada！〃　exclaimed　they；　〃how　is　thy　glory　faded！　The　flower　of　thy　chivalry　lies　low　in　the　land　of　the　stranger；　no　longer　does　the　Vivarrambla　echo　to　the　tramp　of　steed　and　sound　of　trumpet；　no　longer　is　it　crowded　with　thy　youthful　nobles　gloriously　arrayed　for　the　tilt　and　tourney。　　Beautiful　Granada！　the　soft　note　of　the　lute　no　longer　floats　through　thy　moonlit　streets；　the　serenade　is　no　more　heard　beneath　thy　balconies；　the　lively　castanet　is　silent　upon　thy　hills；　the　graceful　dance　of　the　Zambra　is　no　more　seen　beneath　thy　bowers！　　Beautiful　Granada！　why　is　the　Alhambra　so　lorn　and　desolate？　　The　orange　and　myrtle　still　breathe　their　perfumes　into　its　silken　chambers；　the　nightingale　still　sings　within　its　groves；　its　marble　halls　are　still　refreshed　with　the　plash　of　fountains　and　the　gush　of　limpid　rills。　　Alas！　alas！　the　countenance　of　the　king　no　longer　shines　within　those　halls！　The　light　of　the　Alhambra　is　set　for　ever！〃

Thus　all　Granada；　say　the　Arabian　chroniclers；　gave　itself　up　to　lamentation；　there　was　nothing　but　the　voice　of　wailing　from　the　palace　to　the　cottage。　　All　joined　to　deplore　their　youthful　monarch；　cut　down　in　the　freshness　and　promise　of　his　youth；　many　feared　that　the　prediction　of　the　astrologers　was　about　to　be　fulfilled；　and　that　the　downfall　of　the　kingdom　would　follow　the　death　of　Boabdil；　while　all　declared　that　had　he　survived　he　was　the　very　sovereign　calculated　to　restore　the　realm　to　its　ancient　prosperity　and　glory。



CHAPTER　XVIII。

HOW　MULEY　ABUL　HASSAN　PROFITED　BY　THE　MISFORTUNES　OF　　　　　HIS　SON　BOABDIL。


An　unfortunate　death　atones；　with　the　world；　for　a　multitude　of　errors。　　While　the　populace　thought　their　youthful　monarch　had　perished　in　the　field　nothing　could　exceed　their　grief　for　his　loss　and　their　adoration　of　his　memory；　when；　however；　they　learnt　that　he　was　still　alive　and　had　surrendered　himself　captive　to　the　Christians；　their　feelings　underwent　an　instant　change。　　They　decried　his　talents　as　a　commander；　his　courage　as　a　soldier；　they　railed　at　his　expedition　as　rash　and　ill…conducted；　and　they　reviled　him　for　not　having　dared　to　die　on　the　field　of　battle；　rather　than　surrender　to　the　enemy。

The　alfaquis；　as　usual；　mingled　with　the　populace　and　artfully　guided　their　discontents。　　〃Behold；〃　exclaimed　they；　〃the　prediction　is　accomplished　which　was　pronounced　at　the　birth　of　Boabdil！　　He　has　been　seated　on　the　throne；　and　the　kingdom　has　suffered　downfall　and　disgrace　by　his　defeat　and　captivity。　　Comfort　yourselves；　O　Moslems！　　The　evil　day　has　passed　by；　the　prophecy　is　fulfilled：　the　sceptre　which　has　been　broken　in　the　feeble　hand　of　Boabdil　is　destined　to　resume　its　former　sway　in　the　vigorous　grasp　of　Abul　Hassan。〃

The　people　were　struck　with　the　wisdom　of　these　words：　they　rejoiced　that　the　baleful　prediction　which　had　so　long　hung　over　them　was　at　an　end；　and　declared　that　none　but　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　the　valor　and　capacity　necessary　for　the　protection　of　the　kingdom　in　this　time　of　trouble。

The　longer　the　captivity　of　Boabdil　continued；　the　greater　grew　the　popularity　of　his　father。　　One　city　after　another　renewed　allegiance　to　him；　for　power　attracts　power　and　fortune　creates　fortune。　　At　length　he　was　enabled　to　return　to　Granada　and　establish　himself　once　more　in　the　Alhambra。　　At　his　approach　his　repudiated　spouse；　the　sultana　Ayxa；　gathered　together　the　family　and　treasures　of　her　captive　son；　and　retired；　with　a　handful　of　the　nobles；　into　the　Albaycin；　the　rival　quarter　of　the　city；　the　inhabitants　of　which　still　retained　feelings　of　loyalty　to　Boabdil。　　Here　she　fortified　herself　and　held　the　semblance　of　a　court　in　the　name　of　her　son。　The　fierce　Muley　Abul　Hassan　would　have　willingly　carried　fire　and　sword　into　this　factious　quarter　of　the　capital；　but　he　dared　not　confide　in　his　new　and　uncertain　popularity。　　Many　of　the　nobles　detested　him　for　his　past　cruelty；　and　a　large　portion　of　the　soldiery；　besides　many　of　the　people　of　his　own　party；　respected　the　virtues　of　Ayxa　la　Horra　and　pitied　the　misfortunes　of　Boabdil。

Granada　therefore　presented　the　singular　spectacle　of　two　sovereignties　within　the　same　city。　　The　old　king　fortified　himself　in　the　lofty　towers　of　the　Alhambra；　as　much　against　his　own　subjects　as　against　the　Christians；　while　Ayxa；　with　the　zeal　of　a　mother's　affection；　which　waxes　warmer　and　warmer　toward　her　offspring　when　in　adversity；　still　maintained　the　standard　of　Boabdil　on　the　rival　fortress　of　the　Alcazaba；　and　kept　his　powerful　faction　alive　within　the　walls　of　the　Albaycin。



CHAPTER　XIX。

CAPTIVITY　OF　BOABDIL　EL　CHICO。


The　unfortunate　Boabdil　remained　a　prisoner　closely　guarded；　but　treated　with　great　deference　and　respect；　in　the　castle　of　Lucena；　where　the　noblest　apartments　were　appointed　for　his　abode。　　From　the　towers　of　his　prison　he　beheld　the　town　below　filled　with　armed　men；　and　the　lofty　hill　on　which　it　was　built　girdled　by　massive　walls　and　ramparts；　on　which　a　vigilant　watch　was　maintained　night　and　day。　The　mountains　around　were　studded　with　watch…towers　overlooking　the　lonely　roads　which　led　to　Granada；　so　that　a　turban　could　not　stir　over　the　border　without　the　alarm　being　given　and　the　whole　country　put　on　the　alert。　　Boabdil　saw　that　there　was　no　hope　of　escape　from　such　a　fortress；　and　that　any　attempt　to　rescue　him　would　be　equally　in　vain。　　His　heart　was　filled　with　anxiety　as　he　thought　on　the　confusion　and　ruin　which　his　captivity　must　cause　in　his　affairs；　while　sorrows　of　a　softer　kind　overcame　his　fortitude　as　he　thought　on　the　evils　it　might　bring　upon　his　family。

A　few　days　only　had　passed　away　when　missives　arrived　from　the　Castilian　sovereigns。　　Ferdinand　had　been　transported　with　joy　at　hearing　of　the　capture　of　the　Moorish　monarch；　seeing　the　deep　and　politic　uses　that　might　be　made　of　such　an　event；　but　the　magnanimous　spirit　of　Isabella　was　filled　with　compassion　for　the　unfortunate　captive。　　Their　messages　to　Boabdil　were　full　of　sympathy　and　consolation；　breathing　that　high　and　gentle　courtesy　which　dwells　in　noble　minds。

This　magnanimity　in　his　foe　cheered　the　dejected　spirit　of　the　captive　monarch。　　〃Tell　my　sovereigns；　the　king　and　queen；〃　said　he　to　the　messenger；　〃that　I　cannot　he　unhappy　being　in　the　power　of　such　high　and　mighty　princes；　especially　since　they　partake　so　largely　of　that　grace　and　goodness　which　Allah　bestows　upon　the　monarchs　whom　he　greatly　loves。　　Tell　them；　further；　that　I　had　long　thought　of　submitting　myself　to　their　sway；　to　receive　the　kingdom　of　Granada　from　their　hands　in　the　same　manner　that　my　ancestor　received　it　from　King　John　II。；　father　to　the　gracious　queen。　　My　greatest　sorrow；　in　this　my　captivity；　is　that　I　must　appear　to　do　that　from　force　which　I　would　fain　have　done　from　inclination。〃

In　the　mean　time；　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　finding　the　faction　of　his　son　still　formidable　in　Granada；　was　anxious　to　consolidate　his　power　by　gaining　possession　of　the　person　of　Boabdil。　　For　this　purpose　he　sent　an　embassy　to　the　Catholic　monarchs；　offering　large　terms　for　the　ransom；　or　rather　the　purchase；　of　his　son；　proposing；　among　other　conditions；　to　release　the　count　of　Cifuentes　and　nine　other　of　his　most　distinguished　captives；　and　to　enter　into　a　treaty　of　confederacy　with　the　sovereigns。　　Neither　did　the　implacable　father　make　any　scruple　of　testifying　his　indifference　whether　his　son　were　delivered　up　alive　or　dead；　so　that　his　person　were　placed　assuredly　within　his　power。

The　humane　heart　of　Isabella　revolted　at　the　idea　of　giving　up　the　unfortunate　prince　into　the　hands　of　his　most　unnatural　and　inveterate　enemy：　a　disdainful　refusal　was　therefore　returned　to　the　old　monarch；　whose　message　had　been　couched　in　a　vaunting　spirit。　He　was　informed　that　the　Castil