chronicle of the conquest of granada-第40章

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o　places　were　rescued　from　the　vile　sect　of　Mahomet　and　placed　under　the　benignant　domination　of　the　Cross。〃



CHAPTER　XXXI。

HOW　THE　PEOPLE　OF　GRANADA　INVITED　EL　ZAGAL　TO　THE　THRONE；　　　　　AND　HOW　HE　MARCHED　TO　THE　CAPITAL。


The　people　of　Granada　were　a　versatile；　unsteady　race；　and　exceedingly　given　to　make　and　unmake　kings。　　They　had　for　a　long　time　vacillated　between　old　Muley　Abul　Hassan　and　his　son；　Boabdil　el　Chico；　sometimes　setting　up　the　one；　sometimes　the　other；　and　sometimes　both　at　once；　according　to　the　pinch　and　pressure　of　external　evils。　　They　found；　however；　that　the　evils　still　went　on　increasing　in　defiance　of　every　change；　and　were　at　their　wits'　end　to　devise　some　new　combination　or　arrangement　by　which　an　efficient　government　might　be　wrought　out　of　two　bad　kings。　When　the　tidings　arrived　of　the　fall　of　Ronda；　and　the　consequent　ruin　of　the　frontier；　a　tumultuous　assemblage　took　place　in　one　of　the　public　squares。　　As　usual；　the　people　attributed　the　misfortunes　of　the　country　to　the　faults　of　their　rulers；　for　the　populace　never　imagine　that　any　part　of　their　miseries　can　originate　with　themselves。　A　crafty　alfaqui；　named　Alyme　Mazer；　who　had　watched　the　current　of　their　discontents；　rose　and　harangued　them。　　〃You　have　been　choosing　and　changing；〃　said　he；　〃between　two　monarchs；　and　who　and　what　are　they？　　Muley　Abul　Hassan　for　one；　a　man　worn　out　by　age　and　infirmities；　unable　to　sally　forth　against　the　foe；　even　when　ravaging　to　the　very　gates　of　the　city；　and　Boabdil　el　Chico　for　the　other；　an　apostate；　a　traitor；　a　deserter　from　his　throne；　a　fugitive　among　the　enemies　of　his　nation；　a　man　fated　to　misfortune；　and　proverbially　named　'the　Unlucky。'　　In　a　time　of　overwhelming　war　like　the　present　he　only　is　fit　to　sway　a　sceptre　who　can　wield　a　sword。　　Would　you　seek　such　a　man？　　You　need　not　look　far。　　Allah　has　sent　such　a　one　in　this　time　of　distress　to　retrieve　the　fortunes　of　Granada。　　You　already　know　whom　I　mean。　　You　know　that　it　can　be　no　other　than　your　general；　the　invincible　Abdallah；　whose　surname　of　El　Zagal　has　become　a　watchword　in　battle　rousing　the　courage　of　the　faithful　and　striking　terror　into　the　unbelievers。〃

The　multitude　received　the　words　of　the　alfaqui　with　acclamations；　they　were　delighted　with　the　idea　of　a　third　king　over　Granada；　and　Abdallah　el　Zagal　being　of　the　royal　family；　and　already　in　the　virtual　exercise　of　royal　power；　the　measure　had　nothing　in　it　that　appeared　either　rash　or　violent。　　A　deputation　was　therefore　sent　to　El　Zagal　at　Malaga　inviting　him　to　repair　to　Granada　to　receive　the　crown。

El　Zagal　expressed　great　surprise　and　repugnance　when　the　mission　was　announced　to　him；　and　nothing　but　his　patriotic　zeal　for　the　public　safety　and　his　fraternal　eagerness　to　relieve　the　aged　Abul　Hassan　from　the　cares　of　government　prevailed　upon　him　to　accept　the　offer。　　Leaving；　therefore；　Reduan　Vanegas；　one　of　the　bravest　Moorish　generals；　in　command　of　Malaga；　he　departed　for　Granada；　attended　by　three　hundred　trusty　cavaliers。

Muley　Abul　Hassan　did　not　wait　for　the　arrival　of　his　brother。　Unable　any　longer　to　buffet　with　the　storms　of　the　times；　his　only　solicitude　was　to　seek　some　safe　and　quiet　harbor　of　repose。　　In　one　of　the　deep　valleys　which　indent　the　Mediterranean　coast；　and　which　are　shut　up　on　the　land　side　by　stupendous　mountains；　stood　the　little　city　of　Almunecar。　　The　valley　was　watered　by　the　limpid　river　Frio；　and　abounded　with　fruits；　with　grain；　and　pasturage。　　The　city　was　strongly　fortified；　and　the　garrison　and　alcayde　were　devoted　to　the　old　monarch。　　This　was　the　place　chosen　by　Muley　Abul　Hassan　for　his　asylum。　　His　first　care　was　to　send　thither　all　his　treasures；　his　next　care　was　to　take　refuge　there　himself；　his　third；　that　his　sultana　Zoraya　and　their　two　sons　should　follow　him。

In　the　mean　time；　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal　pursued　his　journey　toward　the　capital；　attended　by　his　three　hundred　cavaliers。　　The　road　from　Malaga　to　Granada　winds　close　by　Alhama；　and　is　dominated　by　that　lofty　fortress。　　This　had　been　a　most　perilous　pass　for　the　Moors　during　the　time　that　Alhama　was　commanded　by　the　count　de　Tendilla：　not　a　traveller　could　escape　his　eagle　eye；　and　his　garrison　was　ever　ready　for　a　sally。　　The　count　de　Tendilla；　however；　had　been　relieved　from　this　arduous　post；　and　it　had　been　given　in　charge　to　Don　Gutiere　de　Padilla；　clavero　（or　treasurer）　of　the　order　of　Calatravaan　easy；　indulgent　man；　who　had　with　him　three　hundred　gallant　knights　of　his　order；　besides　other　mercenary　troops。　　The　garrison　had　fallen　off　in　discipline；　the　cavaliers　were　hardy　in　fight　and　daring　in　foray；　but　confident　in　themselves　and　negligent　of　proper　precautions。　　Just　before　the　journey　of　El　Zagal　a　number　of　these　cavaliers；　with　several　soldiers　of　fortune　of　the　garrison；　in　all　about　one　hundred　and　seventy　men；　had　sallied　forth　to　harass　the　Moorish　country　during　its　present　distracted　state；　and；　having　ravaged　the　valleys　of　the　Sierra　Nevada；　or　Snowy　Mountains；　were　returning　to　Alhama　in　gay　spirits　and　laden　with　booty。

As　El　Zagal　passed　through　the　neighborhood　of　Alhama　he　recollected　the　ancient　perils　of　the　road；　and　sent　light　cerradors　in　advance　to　inspect　each　rock　and　ravine　where　a　foe　might　lurk　in　ambush。　　One　of　these　scouts；　overlooking　a　narrow　valley　which　opened　upon　the　road；　descried　a　troop　of　horsemen　on　the　banks　of　a　little　stream。　They　were　dismounted；　and　had　taken　the　bridles　from　their　steeds；　that　they　might　crop　the　fresh　grass　on　the　banks　of　the　river。　　The　horsemen　were　scattered　about；　some　reposing　in　the　shades　of　rocks　and　trees；　others　gambling　for　the　spoil　they　had　taken：　not　a　sentinel　was　posted　to　keep　guard；　everything　showed　the　perfect　security　of　men　who　consider　themselves　beyond　the　reach　of　danger。

These　careless　cavaliers　were　in　fact　the　knights　of　Calatrava　returning　from　their　foray。　　A　part　of　their　force　had　passed　on　with　the　cavalgada；　ninety　of　the　principal　cavaliers　had　halted　to　refresh　themselves　in　this　valley。　　El　Zagal　smiled　with　ferocious　joy　when　he　heard　of　their　negligent　security。　　〃Here　will　be　trophies；〃　said　he；　〃to　grace　our　entrance　into　Granada。〃

Approaching　the　valley　with　cautious　silence；　he　wheeled　into　it　at　full　speed　at　the　head　of　his　troop；　and　attacked　the　Christians　so　suddenly　that　they　had　no　time　to　put　the　bridles　upon　their　horses　or　even　to　leap　into　the　saddles。　　They　made　a　confused　but　valiant　defence；　fighting　among　the　rocks　and　in　the　rugged　bed　of　the　river。　Their　defence　was　useless；　seventy…nine　were　slain；　and　the　remaining　eleven　were　taken　prisoners。

A　party　of　the　Moors　galloped　in　pursuit　of　the　cavalgada：　they　soon　overtook　it　winding　slowly　up　a　hill。　　The　horsemen　who　convoyed　it；　perceiving　the　enemy　at　a　distance；　made　their　escape；　and　left　the　spoil　to　be　retaken　by　the　Moors。　　El　Zagal　gathered　together　his　captives　and　his　booty；　and　proceeded；　elate　with　success；　to　Granada。

He　paused　before　the　gate　of　Elvira；　for　as　yet　he　had　not　been　proclaimed　king。　　This　ceremony　was　immediately　performed；　for　the　fame　of　his　recent　exploit　had　preceded　him　and　intoxicated　the　minds　of　the　giddy　populace。　　He　entered　Granada　in　a　sort　of　triumph。　　The　eleven　captive　knights　of　Calatrava　walked　in　front：　next　were　paraded　the　ninety　captured　steeds；　bearing　the　armor　and　weapons　of　their　late　owners；　and　led　by　as　many　mounted　Moors：　then　came　seventy　Moorish　horsemen；　with　as　many　Christian　heads　hanging　at　their　saddle…bows：　Muley　Abdallah　followed；　surrounded　by　a　number　of　distinguished　cavaliers　splendidly　attired；　and　the　pageant　was　closed　by　a　long　cavalgada　of　the　flocks　and　herds　and　other　booty　recovered　from　the　Christians。*

*Zurita；　lib。　20；　c。　62；　Mariana；　Hist。　de　Espana；　Abarca；　Anales　　de　Aragon。


The　populace　gazed　with　almost　savage　triumph　at　these　captive　cavaliers　and　the　gory　heads　of　their　companions；　knowing　them　to　have　been　part　of　the　formidable　garrison　of　Alhama；　so　long　the　scourge　of　Granada　and　the　terror　of　the　Vega。　　They　hailed　this　petty　triumph　as　an　auspicious　opening　of　the　reign　of　their　new　monarch；　for　several　days　the　name　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan　and