chronicle of the conquest of granada-第39章

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　could　be　assembled；　and　was　only　to　be　traced；　like　a　hurricane；　by　the　devastation　it　had　made。

Hamet　regained　in　safety　the　Serrania　de　Ronda；　exulting　in　his　successful　inroad。　　The　mountain…glens　were　filled　with　long　droves　of　cattle　and　flocks　of　sheep　from　the　campinas　of　Medina　Sidonia。　　There　were　mules；　too；　laden　with　the　plunder　of　the　villages；　and　every　warrior　had　some　costly　spoil　of　jewels　for　his　favorite　mistress。

As　the　Zegri　drew　near　to　Ronda　he　was　roused　from　his　dream　of　triumph　by　the　sound　of　heavy　ordnance　bellowing　through　the　mountain…defiles。　　His　heart　misgave　him：　he　put　spurs　to　his　horse　and　galloped　in　advance　of　his　lagging　cavalgada。　　As　he　proceeded　the　noise　of　the　ordnance　increased；　echoing　from　cliff　to　cliff。　Spurring　his　horse　up　a　craggy　height　which　commanded　an　extensive　view；　he　beheld；　to　his　consternation；　the　country　about　Ronda　white　with　the　tents　of　a　besieging　army。　　The　royal　standard；　displayed　before　a　proud　encampment；　showed　that　Ferdinand　himself　was　present；　while　the　incessant　blaze　and　thunder　of　artillery　and　the　volumes　of　overhanging　smoke　told　the　work　of　destruction　that　was　going　on。

The　royal　army　had　succeeded　in　coming　upon　Ronda　by　surprise　during　the　absence　of　its　alcayde　and　most　of　its　garrison；　but　its　inhabitants　were　warlike　and　defended　themselves　bravely；　trusting　that　Hamet　and　his　Gomeres　would　soon　return　to　their　assistance。

The　fancied　strength　of　their　bulwarks　had　been　of　little　avail　against　the　batteries　of　the　besiegers。　　In　the　space　of　four　days　three　towers　and　great　masses　of　the　walls　which　defended　the　suburbs　were　battered　down　and　the　suburbs　taken　and　plundered。　Lombards　and　other　heavy　ordnance　were　now　levelled　at　the　walls　of　the　city；　and　stones　and　missiles　of　all　kinds　hurled　into　the　streets。　　The　very　rock　on　which　the　city　stood　shook　with　the　thunder　of　the　artillery；　and　the　Christian　captives；　deep　within　its　dungeons；　hailed　the　sound　as　a　promise　of　deliverance。

When　Hamet　el＇8＇Zegri　beheld　his　city　thus　surrounded　and　assailed；　he　called　upon　his　men　to　follow　him　and　cut　their　way　through　to　its　relief。　　They　proceeded　stealthily　through　the　mountains　until　they　came　to　the　nearest　heights　above　the　Christian　camp。　　When　night　fell　and　part　of　the　army　was　sunk　in　sleep；　they　descended　the　rocks；　and；　rushing　suddenly　upon　the　weakest　part　of　the　camp；　endeavored　to　break　their　way　through　and　gain　the　city。　　The　camp　was　too　strong　to　be　forced；　they　were　driven　back　to　the　crags　of　the　mountains；　whence　they　defended　themselves　by　showering　down　darts　and　stones　upon　their　pursuers。

Hamet　now　lit　alarm…fires　about　the　heights：　his　standard　was　joined　by　the　neighboring　mountaineers　and　by　troops　from　Malaga。　　Thus　reinforced；　he　made　repeated　assaults　upon　the　Christians；　cutting　off　all　stragglers　from　the　camp。　　All　his　attempts　to　force　his　way　into　the　city；　however；　were　fruitless；　many　of　his　bravest　men　were　slain；　and　he　was　obliged　to　retreat　into　the　fastnesses　of　the　mountains。

In　the　mean　while　the　distress　of　Ronda　increased　hourly。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz；　having　possession　of　the　suburbs；　was　enabled　to　approach　to　the　very　foot　of　the　perpendicular　precipice　rising　from　the　river　on　the　summit　of　which　the　city　is　built。　　At　the　foot　of　this　rock　is　a　living　fountain　of　limpid　water　gushing　into　a　great　natural　basin。　　A　secret　mine　led　down　from　within　the　city　to　this　fountain　by　several　hundred　steps　cut　in　the　solid　rock。　　Hence　the　city　obtained　its　chief　supply　of　water；　and　these　steps　were　deeply　worn　by　the　weary　feet　of　Christian　captives　employed　in　this　painful　labor。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz　discovered　this　subterraneous　passage；　and　directed　his　pioneers　to　countermine　in　the　side　of　the　rock；　they　pierced　to　the　shaft；　and；　stopping　it　up；　deprived　the　city　of　the　benefit　of　this　precious　fountain。

While　the　marques　was　thus　pressing　the　siege　with　the　generous　thought　of　soon　delivering　his　companions…in…arms　from　the　Moorish　dungeons；　far　other　were　the　feelings　of　the　alcayde；　Hamet　el　Zegri。　　He　smote　his　breast　and　gnashed　his　teeth　in　impotent　fury　as　he　beheld　from　the　mountain…cliffs　the　destruction　of　the　city。　Every　thunder　of　the　Christian　ordnance　seemed　to　batter　against　his　heart。　　He　saw　tower　after　tower　tumbling　by　day；　and　various　parts　of　the　city　in　a　blaze　at　night。　　〃They　fired　not　merely　stones　from　their　ordnance；〃　says　a　chronicler　of　the　times；　〃but　likewise　great　balls　of　iron　cast　in　moulds；　which　demolished　everything　they　struck。　　They　threw　also　balls　of　tow　steeped　in　pitch　and　oil　and　gunpowder；　which；　when　once　on　fire；　were　not　to　be　extinguished；　and　which　set　the　houses　in　flames。　　Great　was　the　horror　of　the　inhabitants：　they　knew　not　where　to　fly　for　refuge：　their　houses　were　in　a　blaze　or　shattered　by　the　ordnance；　the　streets　were　perilous　from　the　falling　ruins　and　the　bounding　balls；　which　dashed　to　pieces　everything　they　encountered。　　At　night　the　city　looked　like　a　fiery　furnace；　the　cries　and　wailings　of　the　women　between　the　thunders　of　the　ordnance　reached　even　to　the　Moors　on　the　opposite　mountains；　who　answered　them　by　yells　of　fury　and　despair。

All　hope　of　external　succor　being　at　an　end；　the　inhabitants　of　Ronda　were　compelled　to　capitulate。　　Ferdinand　was　easily　prevailed　upon　to　grant　them　favorable　terms。　　The　place　was　capable　of　longer　resistance；　and　he　feared　for　the　safety　of　his　camp；　as　the　forces　were　daily　augmenting　on　the　mountains　and　making　frequent　assaults。　The　inhabitants　were　permitted　to　depart　with　their　effects；　either　to　Barbary；　Granada；　or　elsewhere；　and　those　who　chose　to　reside　in　Spain　had　lands　assigned　them　and　were　indulged　in　the　practice　of　their　religion。

No　sooner　did　the　place　surrender　than　detachments　were　sent　to　attack　the　Moors　who　hovered　about　the　neighboring　mountains。　Hamet　el　Zegri；　however；　did　not　remain　to　make　a　fruitless　battle。　He　gave　up　the　game　as　lost；　and　retreated　with　his　Gomeres；　filled　with　grief　and　rage；　but　trusting　to　fortune　to　give　him　future　vengeance。

The　first　care　of　the　good　marques　of　Cadiz　on　entering　Ronda　was　to　deliver　his　unfortunate　companion…in…arms　from　the　dungeons　of　the　fortress。　　What　a　difference　in　their　looks　from　the　time　when；　flushed　with　health　and　hope　and　arrayed　in　military　pomp；　they　had　sallied　forth　upon　the　mountain…foray！　　Many　of　them　were　almost　naked；　with　irons　at　their　ankles　and　beards　reaching　to　their　waists。　　Their　meeting　with　the　marques　was　joyful；　yet　it　had　the　look　of　grief；　for　their　joy　was　mingled　with　many　bitter　recollections。　　There　was　an　immense　number　of　other　captives；　among　whom　were　several　young　men　of　noble　families　who　with　filial　piety　had　surrendered　themselves　prisoners　in　place　of　their　fathers。

The　captives　were　all　provided　with　mules　and　sent　to　the　queen　at　Cordova。　　The　humane　heart　of　Isabella　melted　at　the　sight　of　the　piteous　cavalcade。　　They　were　all　supplied　by　her　with　food　and　raiment；　and　money　to　pay　their　expenses　to　their　homes。　Their　chains　were　hung　as　pious　trophies　against　the　exterior　of　the　church　of　St。　Juan　de　los　Reyes　in　Toledo；　where　the　Christian　traveller　may　regale　his　eyes　with　the　sight　of　them　at　this　very　day。*

*Seen　by　the　author　in　1826。


Among　the　Moorish　captives　was　a　young　infidel　maiden；　of　great　beauty；　who　desired　to　become　a　Christian　and　to　remain　in　Spain。　She　had　been　inspired　with　the　light　of　the　true　faith　through　the　ministry　of　a　young　man　who　had　been　a　captive　in　Ronda。　　He　was　anxious　to　complete　his　good　work　by　marrying　her。　　The　queen　consented　to　their　pious　wishes；　having　first　taken　care　that　the　young　maiden　should　be　properly　purified　by　the　holy　sacrament　of　baptism。

〃Thus　this　pestilent　nest　of　warfare　and　infidelity；　the　city　of　Ronda；〃　says　the　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　〃was　converted　to　the　true　faith　by　the　thunder　of　our　artilleryan　example　which　was　soon　followed　by　Cazarabonela；　Marbella；　and　other　towns　in　these　parts；　insomuch　that　in　the　course　of　this　expedition　no　less　than　seventy…two　places　were　rescued　from　the　vile　sect　of　Mahomet　and　placed　under　the　benignant　domination　of　the