chronicle of the conquest of granada-第34章

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Thus　did　Zahara　return　once　more　in　possession　of　the　Christians；　to　the　great　confusion　of　old　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　who；　having　paid　the　penalty　of　his　ill…timed　violence；　was　now　deprived　of　its　vaunted　fruits。　　The　Castilian　sovereigns　were　so　gratified　by　this　achievement　of　the　valiant　Ponce　de　Leon　that　they　authorized　him　thenceforth　to　entitle　himself　duke　of　Cadiz　and　marques　of　Zahara。　　The　warrior；　however；　was　so　proud　of　the　original　title　under　which　he　had　so　often　signalized　himself　that　he　gave　it　the　precedence；　and　always　signed　himself　marques；　duke　of　Cadiz。　　As　the　reader　may　have　acquired　the　same　predilection；　we　shall　continue　to　call　him　by　his　ancient　title。



CHAPTER　XXVI。

OF　THE　FORTRESS　OF　ALHAMA；　AND　HOW　WISELY　IT　WAS　GOVERNED　　　　　BY　THE　COUNT　DE　TENDILLA。


In　this　part　of　his　chronicle　the　worthy　father　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　indulges　in　triumphant　exultation　over　the　downfall　of　Zahara。　Heaven　sometimes　speaks　（says　he）　through　the　mouths　of　false　prophets　for　the　confusion　of　the　wicked。　　By　the　fall　of　this　fortress　was　the　prediction　of　the　santon　of　Granada　in　some　measure　fulfilled；　that　〃the　ruins　of　Zahara　should　fall　upon　the　heads　of　the　infidels。〃

Our　zealous　chronicler　scoffs　at　the　Moorish　alcayde　who　lost　his　fortress　by　surprise　in　broad　daylight；　and　contrasts　the　vigilance　of　the　Christian　governor　of　Alhama；　the　town　taken　in　retaliation　for　the　storming　of　Zahara。

The　important　post　of　Alhama　was　at　this　time　confided　by　King　Ferdinand　to　Don　Inigo　Lopez　de　Mendoza；　count　of　Tendilla；　a　cavalier　of　noble　blood；　brother　to　the　grand　cardinal　of　Spain。　　He　had　been　instructed　by　the　king　not　merely　to　maintain　his　post；　but　also　to　make　sallies　and　lay　waste　the　surrounding　country。　　His　fortress　was　critically　situated。　　It　was　within　seven　leagues　of　Granada；　and　at　no　great　distance　from　the　warlike　city　of　Loxa。　　It　was　nestled　in　the　lap　of　the　mountains　commanding　the　high…road　to　Malaga　and　a　view　over　the　extensive　Vega。　　Thus　situated；　in　the　heart　of　the　enemy's　country；　surrounded　by　foes　ready　to　assail　him　and　a　rich　country　for　him　to　ravage；　it　behooved　this　cavalier　to　be　for　ever　on　the　alert。　　He　was　in　fact　an　experienced　veteran；　a　shrewd　and　wary　officer；　and　a　commander　amazingly　prompt　and　fertile　in　expedients。

On　assuming　the　command　he　found　that　the　garrison　consisted　but　of　one　thousand　men；　horse　and　foot。　　They　were　hardy　troops；　seasoned　in　rough　mountain…campaigning；　but　reckless　and　dissolute；　as　soldiers　are　apt　to　be　when　accustomed　to　predatory　warfare。　　They　would　fight　hard　for　booty；　and　then　gamble　it　heedlessly　away　or　squander　it　in　licentious　revelling。　　Alhama　abounded　with　hawking；　sharping；　idle　hangers…on；　eager　to　profit　by　the　vices　and　follies　of　the　garrison。　　The　soldiers　were　oftener　gambling　and　dancing　beneath　the　walls　than　keeping　watch　upon　the　battlements；　and　nothing　was　heard　from　morning　till　night　but　the　noisy　contests　of　cards　and　dice；　mingled　with　the　sound　of　the　bolero　or　fandango；　the　drowsy　strumming　of　the　guitar；　and　the　rattling　of　the　castanets；　while　often　the　whole　was　interrupted　by　the　loud　brawl　and　fierce　and　bloody　contest。

The　count　of　Tendilla　set　himself　vigorously　to　reform　these　excesses：　he　knew　that　laxity　of　morals　is　generally　attended　by　neglect　of　duty；　and　that　the　least　breach　of　discipline　in　the　exposed　situation　of　his　fortress　might　be　fatal。　　〃Here　is　but　a　handful　of　men；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　necessary　that　each　man　should　be　a　hero。〃

He　endeavored　to　awaken　a　proper　ambition　in　the　minds　of　his　soldiers　and　to　instil　into　them　the　high　principles　of　chivalry。　　〃A　just　war；〃　he　observed；　〃is　often　rendered　wicked　and　disastrous　by　the　manner　in　which　it　is　conducted；　for　the　righteousness　of　the　cause　is　not　sufficient　to　sanction　the　profligacy　of　the　means；　and　the　want　of　order　and　subordination　among　the　troops　may　bring　ruin　and　disgrace　upon　the　best…concerted　plans。〃　　But　we　cannot　describe　the　character　and　conduct　of　this　renowned　commander　in　more　forcible　language　than　that　of　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　excepting　that　the　pious　father　places　in　the　foreground　of　his　virtues　his　hatred　of　the　Moors。　　〃The　count　de　Tendilla；〃　says　he；　〃was　a　mirror　of　Christian　knighthoodwatchful；　abstemious；　chaste；　devout；　and　thoroughly　filled　with　the　spirit　of　the　cause。　　He　labored　incessantly　and　strenuously　for　the　glory　of　the　faith　and　the　prosperity　of　their　most　Catholic　majesties；　and；　above　all；　he　hated　the　infidels　with　a　pure　and　holy　hatred。　　This　worthy　cavalier　discountenanced　all　idleness；　rioting；　chambering；　and　wantonness　among　his　soldiery。　　He　kept　them　constantly　to　the　exercise　of　arms；　making　them　adroit　in　the　use　of　their　weapons　and　management　of　their　steeds；　and　prompt　for　the　field　at　a　moment's　notice。　　He　permitted　no　sound　of　lute　or　harp　or　song　or　other　loose　minstrelsy　to　be　heard　in　his　fortress；　debauching　the　ear　and　softening　the　valor　of　the　soldier；　no　other　music　was　allowed　but　the　wholesome　rolling　of　the　drum　and　braying　of　the　trumpet；　and　such　like　spirit…stirring　instruments　as　fill　the　mind　with　thoughts　of　iron　war。　　All　wandering　minstrels；　sharping　peddlers；　sturdy　trulls；　and　other　camp　trumpery　were　ordered　to　pack　up　their　baggage；　and　were　drummed　out　of　the　gates　of　Alhama。　　In　place　of　such　lewd　rabble　he　introduced　a　train　of　holy　friars　to　inspirit　his　people　by　exhortation　and　prayer　and　choral　chanting；　and　to　spur　them　on　to　fight　the　good　fight　of　faith。　　All　games　of　chance　were　prohibited　except　the　game　of　war；　and　this　he　labored；　by　vigilance　and　vigor；　to　reduce　to　a　game　of　certainty。　　Heaven　smiled　upon　the　efforts　of　this　righteous　cavalier。　　His　men　became　soldiers　at　all　points　and　terrors　to　the　Moors。　　The　good　count　never　set　forth　on　a　ravage　without　observing　the　rites　of　confession；　absolution；　and　communion；　and　obliging　his　followers　to　do　the　same。　　Their　banners　were　blessed　by　the　holy　friars　whom　he　maintained　in　Alhama；　and　in

this　way　success　was　secured　to　his　arms　and　he　was　enabled　to　lay　waste　the　land　of　the　heathen。〃

The　fortress　of　Alhama　（continues　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　overlooked　from　its　lofty　site　a　great　part　of　the　fertile　Vega；　watered　by　the　Cazin　and　the　Xenil；　from　　this　he　made　frequent　sallies；　　sweeping　away　the　flocks　and　herds　from　the　pasture；　the　laborer　from　the　field；　and　the　convoy　from　the　road；　so　that　it　was　said　by　the　Moors　that　a　beetle　could　not　crawl　across　the　Vega　without　being　seen　by　Count　Tendilla。　　The　peasantry；　therefore；　were　fain　to　betake　themselves　to　watch…towers　and　fortified　hamlets；　where　they　shut　up　their　cattle；　garnered　their　corn；　and　sheltered　their　wives　and　children。　　Even　there　they　were　not　safe：　the　count　would　storm　these　rustic　fortresses　with　fire　and　sword；　make　captives　of　their　inhabitants；　carry　off　the　corn；　the　oil；　the　silks；　and　cattle；　and　leave　the　ruins　blazing　and　smoking　within　the　very　sight　of　Granada。

〃It　was　a　pleasing　and　refreshing　sight；〃　continues　the　good　father；　〃to　behold　this　pious　knight　and　his　followers　returning　from　one　of　these　crusades；　leaving　the　rich　land　of　the　infidel　in　smoking　desolation　behind　them；　to　behold　the　long　line　of　mules　and　asses　laden　with　the　plunder　of　the　Gentilesthe　hosts　of　captive　Moors；　men；　women；　and　childrendroves　of　sturdy　beeves；　lowing　kine；　and　bleating　sheep；all　winding　up　the　steep　acclivity　to　the　gates　of　Alhama；　pricked　on　by　the　Catholic　soldiery。　　His　garrison　thus　thrived　on　the　fat　of　the　land　and　the　spoil　of　the　infidel；　nor　was　he　unmindful　of　the　pious　fathers　whose　blessings　crowned　his　enterprises　with　success。　　A　large　portion　of　the　spoil　was　always　dedicated　to　the　Church；　and　the　good　friars　were　ever　ready　at　the　gate　to　hail　him　on　his　return　and　receive　the　share　allotted　them。　Besides　these　allotments；　he　made　many　votive　offerings；　either　in　time　of　peril　or　on　the　eve　of　a　foray；　and　the　chapels　of　Alhama　were　resplendent　with　chalices；　crosses；　and　other　precious　gifts　made　by　this　Catholic　cavalier。〃

Thus　eloquently　does　the　venerable　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　dilate　in　praise　of　the　good　count　de　Tendilla；　and　other　hist