chronicle of the conquest of granada-第36章

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ava　of　a　volcano；　through　the　regions　of　Pupiana　and　Alhendin；　and　so　on　to　the　vega　of　Malaga；　laying　waste　the　groves　of　olives　and　almonds　and　the　fields　of　grain；　and　destroying　every　green　thing。　　The　Moors　of　some　of　those　places　interceded　in　vain　for　their　groves　and　fields；　offering　to　deliver　up　their　Christian　captives。　　One　part　of　the　army　blockaded　the　towns；　while　the　other　ravaged　the　surrounding　country。　　Sometimes　the　Moors　sallied　forth　desperately　to　defend　their　property；　but　were　driven　back　to　their　gates　with　slaughter　and　their　suburbs　pillaged　and　burnt。　　It　was　an　awful　spectacle　at　night　to　behold　the　volumes　of　black　smoke　mingled　with　lurid　flames　rising　from　the　burning　suburbs；　and　the　women　on　the　walls　of　the　town　wringing　their　hands　and　shrieking　at　the　desolation　of　their　dwellings。

The　destroying　army　on　arriving　at　the　sea…coast　found　vessels　lying　off　shore　laden　with　all　kinds　of　provisions　and　munitions　sent　from　Seville　and　Xeres；　and　was　thus　enabled　to　continue　its　desolating　career。　　Advancing　to　the　neighborhood　of　Malaga；　it　was　bravely　assailed　by　the　Moors　of　that　city；　and　there　was　severe　skirmishing　for　a　whole　day；　but；　while　the　main　part　of　the　army　encountered　the　enemy；　the　rest　ravaged　the　whole　vega　and　destroyed　all　the　mills。　　As　the　object　of　the　expedition　was　not　to　capture　places；　but　merely　to　burn；　ravage；　and　destroy；　the　host；　satisfied　with　the　mischief　they　had　done　in　the　vega；　turned　their　backs　upon　Malaga　and　again　entered　the　mountains。　　They　passed　by　Coin　and　through　the　regions　of　Allazayna；　and　Gatero；　and　Alhaurin；　all　which　were　likewise　desolated。　　In　this　way　did　they　make　the　circuit　of　a　chain　of　rich　and　verdant　valleys；　the　glory　of　those　mountains　and　the　pride　and　delight　of　the　Moors。　　For　forty　days　did　they　continue　on　like　a　consuming　fire；　leaving　a　smoking　and　howling　waste　to　mark　their　course；　until；　weary　with　the　work　of　destruction；　and　having　fully　sated　their　revenge　for　the　massacre　of　the　Axarquia；　they　returned　in　triumph　to　the　meadows　of　Antiquera。

In　the　month　of　June；　King　Ferdinand　took　command　in　person　of　this　destructive　army；　he　increased　its　force；　and　added　to　its　means　of　mischief　several　lombards　and　other　heavy　artillery；　intended　for　the　battering　of　towns　and　managed　by　engineers　from　France　and　Germany。　　With　these　the＇7＇marques　of　Cadiz　assured　the　king　he　would　soon　be　able　to　reduce　the　Moorish　fortresses；　which　were　only　calculated　for　defence　against　the　engines　anciently　used　in　warfare。　　Their　walls　and　towers　were　high　and　thin；　depending　for　security　on　their　rough　and　rocky　situations。　　The　stone　and　iron　balls　thundered　from　the　lombards　would　soon　tumble　them　in　ruins　upon　the　heads　of　their　defenders。

The　fate　of　Alora　speedily　proved　the　truth　of　this　opinion。　　It　was　strongly　posted　on　a　rock　washed　by　a　river。　　The　artillery　soon　battered　down　two　of　the　towers　and　a　part　of　the　wall。　　The　Moors　were　thrown　into　consternation　at　the　vehemence　of　the　assault　and　the　effect　of　those　tremendous　engines　upon　their　vaunted　bulwarks。　The　roaring　of　the　artillery　and　the　tumbling　of　the　walls　terrified　the　women；　who　beset　the　alcayde　with　vociferous　supplications　to　surrender。　　The　place　was　given　up　on　the　20th　of　June；　on　condition　that　the　inhabitants　might　depart　with　their　effects。　　The　people　of　Malaga；　as　yet　unacquainted　with　the　power　of　this　battering　ordnance；　were　so　incensed　at　those　of　Alora　for　what　they　considered　a　tame　surrender　that　they　would　not　admit　them　into　their　city。

A　similar　fate　attended　the　town　of　Setenil；　built　on　a　lofty　rock　and　esteemed　impregnable。　　Many　times　had　it　been　besieged　under　former　Christian　kings；　but　never　taken。　　Even　now；　for　several　days　the　artillery　was　directed　against　it　without　effect；　and　many　of　the　cavaliers　murmured　at　the　marques　of　Cadiz　for　having　counselled　the　king　to　attack　this　unconquerable　place。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios。


On　the　same　night　that　these　reproaches　were　uttered　the　marques　directed　the　artillery　himself：　he　levelled　the　lombards　at　the　bottom　of　the　walls　and　at　the　gates。　　In　a　little　while　the　gates　were　battered　to　pieces；　a　great　breach　was　effected　in　the　walls；　and　the　Moors　were　fain　to　capitulate。　　Twenty…four　Christian　captives；　who　had　been　taken　in　the　defeat　of　the　mountains　of　Malaga；　were　rescued　from　the　dungeons　of　this　fortress；　and　hailed　the　marques　as　their　deliverer。

Needless　is　it　to　mention　the　capture　of　various　other　places　which　surrendered　without　waiting　to　be　attacked。　　The　Moors　had　always　shown　great　bravery　and　perseverance　in　defending　their　towns；　they　were　formidable　in　their　sallies　and　skirmishes；　and　patient　in　enduring　hunger　and　thirst　when　besieged；　but　this　terrible　ordnance；　which　demolished　their　walls　with　such　ease　and　rapidity；　overwhelmed　them　with　dismay　and　rendered　vain　all　resistance。　King　Ferdinand　was　so　struck　with　the　effect　of　this　artillery　that　he　ordered　the　number　of　lombards　to　be　increased；　and　these　potent　engines　had　henceforth　a　great　influence　on　the　fortunes　of　this　war。

The　last　operation　of　this　year；　so　disastrous　to　the　Moors；　was　an　inroad　by　Ferdinand；　in　the　latter　part　of　summer；　into　the　Vega；　in　which　he　ravaged　the　country；　burnt　two　villages　near　to　Granada；　and　destroyed　the　mills　near　the　very　gates　of　the　city。

Old　Muley　Abul　Hassan　was　overwhelmed　with　dismay　at　the　desolation　which　during　the　whole　year　had　raged　throughout　his　territories　and　had　now　reached　the　walls　of　his　capital。　　His　fierce　spirit　was　broken　by　misfortunes　and　infirmity；　he　offered　to　purchase　a　peace　and　to　hold　his　crown　as　a　tributary　vassal。　　Ferdinand　would　listen　to　no　propositions：　the　absolute　conquest　of　Granada　was　the　great　object　of　this　war；　and　he　was　resolved　never　to　rest　content　without　its　complete　fulfilment。　　Having　supplied　and　strengthened　the　garrisons　of　the　places　taken　in　the　heart　of　the　Moorish　territories；　he　enjoined　their　commanders　to　render　every　assistance　to　the　younger　Moorish　king　in　the　civil　war　against　his　father。　　He　then　returned　with　his　army　to　Cordova　in　great　triumph；　closing　a　series　of　ravaging　campaigns　which　had　filled　the　kingdom　of　Granada　with　grief　and　consternation。



CHAPTER　XXVIII。

ATTEMPT　OF　EL　ZAGAL　TO　SURPRISE　BOABDIL　IN　ALMERIA。


During　this　year　of　sorrow　and　disaster　to　the　Moors　the　younger　king；　Boabdil；　most　truly　called　the　Unfortunate；　held　a　diminished　and　feeble　court　in　the　maritime　city　of　Almeria。　　He　retained　little　more　than　the　name　of　king；　and　was　supported　in　even　this　shadow　of　royalty　by　the　countenance　and　treasures　of　the　Castilian　sovereigns。　　Still　he　trusted　that　in　the　fluctuation　of　events　the　inconstant　nation　might　once　more　return　to　his　standard　and　replace　him　on　the　throne　of　the　Alhambra。

His　mother；　the　high…spirited　sultana　Ayxa　la　Horra；　endeavored　to　rouse　him　from　this　passive　state。　　〃It　is　a　feeble　mind；〃　said　she；　〃that　waits　for　the　turn　of　fortune's　wheel；　the　brave　mind　seizes　upon　it　and　turns　it　to　its　purpose。　　Take　the　field；　and　you　may　drive　danger　before　you；　remain　cowering　at　home；　and　it　besieges　you　in　your　dwelling。　　By　a　bold　enterprise　you　may　regain　your　splendid　throne　in　Granada；　by　passive　forbearance　you　will　forfeit　even　this　miserable　throne　in　Almeria。〃

Boabdil　had　not　the　force　of　soul　to　follow　these　courageous　counsels；　and　in　a　little　time　the　evils　his　mother　had　predicted　fell　upon　him。

Old　Muley　Abul　Hassan　was　almost　extinguished　by　age　and　paralysis。　He　had　nearly　lost　his　sight；　and　was　completely　bedridden。　　His　brother；　Abdallah；　surnamed　El　Zagal；　or　the　Valiant；　the　same　who　had　assisted　in　the　massacre　of　the　Spanish　chivalry　among　the　mountains　of　Malaga；　was　commander…in…chief　of　the　Moorish　armies；　and　gradually　took　upon　himself　most　of　the　cares　of　sovereignty。　Among　other　things；　he　was　particularly　zealous　in　espousing　his　brother's　quarrel　with　his　son；　and　he　prosecuted　it　with　such　vehemence　that　many　affirmed　there　was　something　more　than　mere　fraternal　sympathy　at　the　bottom　of　his　zeal。

The　disasters　and　disgraces　inflicted　on　the　country　by　the　Christians　duri