chronicle of the conquest of granada-第44章

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e　its　fury。　　Satisfied　that　all　further　resistance　was　in　vain；　the　valiant　alcayde　made　signal　for　a　parley。　　The　articles　of　capitulation　were　soon　arranged。　　The　alcayde　and　his　garrisons　were　permitted　to　return　in　safety　to　the　city　of　Granada；　and　the　castles　were　delivered　into　the　possession　of　King　Ferdinand　on　the　day　of　the　festival　of　St。　Matthew　in　the　month　of　September。　　They　were　immediately　repaired；　strongly　garrisoned；　and　delivered　in　charge　to　the　city　of　Jaen。

The　effects　of　this　triumph　were　immediately　apparent。　　Quiet　and　security　once　more　settled　upon　the　bishopric。　　The　husbandmen　tilled　their　fields　in　peace；　the　herds　and　flocks　fattened　unmolested　in　the　pastures；　and　the　vineyards　yielded　corpulent　skinsful　of　rosy　wine。　　The　good　bishop　enjoyed　in　the　gratitude　of　his　people　the　approbation　of　his　conscience；　the　increase　of　his　revenues；　and　the　abundance　of　his　table　a　reward　for　all　his　toils　and　perils。　　〃This　glorious　victory；〃　exclaims　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　〃achieved　by　such　extraordinary　management　and　infinite　labor；　is　a　shining　example　of　what　a　bishop　can　effect　for　the　promotion　of　the　faith　and　the　good　of　his　diocese。〃



CHAPTER　XXXIV。

ENTERPRISE　OF　THE　KNIGHTS　OF　CALATRAVA　AGAINST　ZALEA。


While　these　events　were　taking　place　on　the　northern　frontier　of　the　kingdom　of　Granada　the　important　fortress　of　Alhama　was　neglected；　and　its　commander；　Don　Gutiere　de　Padilla；　clavero　of　Calatrava；　reduced　to　great　perplexity。　　The　remnant　of　the　foraging　party　which　had　been　surprised　and　massacred　by　El　Zagal　when　on　his　way　to　Granada　to　receive　the　crown　had　returned　in　confusion　and　dismay　to　the　fortress。　　They　could　only　speak　of　their　own　disgrace；　being　obliged　to　abandon　their　cavalgada　and　fly；　pursued　by　a　superior　force：　of　the　flower　of　their　party；　the　gallant　knights　of　Calatrava；　who　had　remained　behind　in　the　valley；　they　knew　nothing。　　A　few　days　cleared　up　the　mystery　of　their　fate：　tidings　were　brought　that　their　bloody　heads　had　been　borne　in　triumph　into　Granada。　　The　surviving　knights　of　Calatrava；　who　formed　a　part　of　the　garrison；　burned　to　revenge　the　death　of　their　comrades　and　to　wipe　out　the　stigma　of　this　defeat；　but　the　clavero　had　been　rendered　cautious　by　disasterhe　resisted　all　their　entreaties　for　a　foray。　　His　garrison　was　weakened　by　the　loss　of　so　many　of　its　bravest　men；　the　Vega　was　patrolled　by　numerous　and　powerful　squadrons　sent　forth　by　El　Zagal；　above　all；　the　movements　of　the　garrison　were　watched　by　the　warriors　of　Zalea；　a　strong　town　only　two　leagues　distant　on　the　road　toward　Loxa。　　This　place　was　a　continual　check　upon　Alhama　when　in　its　most　powerful　state；　placing　ambuscades　to　entrap　the　Christian　cavaliers　in　the　course　of　their　sallies。　　Frequent　and　bloody　skirmishes　had　taken　place　in　consequence；　and　the　troops　of　Alhama；　when　returning　from　their　forays；　had　often　to　fight　their　way　back　through　the　squadrons　of　Zalea。　　Thus　surrounded　by　dangers；　Don　Gutiere　de　Padilla　restrained　the　eagerness　of　his　troops　for　a　sally；　knowing　that　an　additional　disaster　might　be　followed　by　the　loss　of　Alhama。

In　the　mean　while　provisions　began　to　grow　scarce；　they　were　unable　to　forage　the　country　as　usual　for　supplies；　and　depended　for　relief　upon　the　Castilian　sovereigns。　　The　defeat　of　the　count　de　Cabra　filled　the　measure　of　their　perplexities；　as　it　interrupted　the　intended　reinforcements　and　supplies。　　To　such　extremity　were　they　reduced　that　they　were　compelled　to　kill　some　of　their　horses　for　provisions。

The　worthy　clavero；　Don　Gutiere　de　Padilla；　was　pondering　one　day　on　this　gloomy　state　of　affairs　when　a　Moor　was　brought　before　him　who　had　surrendered　himself　at　the　gate　of　Alhama　and　claimed　an　audience。　　Don　Gutiere　was　accustomed　to　visits　of　the　kind　from　renegado　Moors；　who　roamed　the　country　as　spies　and　adalides；　but　the　countenance　of　this　man　was　quite　unknown　to　him。　　He　had　a　box　strapped　to　his　shoulders　containing　divers　articles　of　traffic；　and　appeared　to　be　one　of　those　itinerant　traders　who　often　resorted　to　Alhama　and　the　other　garrison　towns　under　pretext　of　vending　trivial　merchandise；　such　as　amulets；　perfumes；　and　trinkets；　but　who　often　produced　rich　shawls；　golden　chains　and　necklaces；　and　valuable　gems　and　jewels。

The　Moor　requested　a　private　conference　with　the　clavero。　　〃I　have　a　precious　jewel；〃　said　he；　〃to　dispose　of。〃

〃I　want　no　jewels；〃　replied　Don　Gutiere。

〃For　the　sake　of　Him　who　died　on　the　cross；　the　great　prophet　of　your　faith；〃　said　the　Moor　solemnly；　〃refuse　not　my　request；　the　jewel　I　speak　of　you　alone　can　purchase；　but　I　can　only　treat　about　it　in　secret。〃

Don　Gutiere　perceived　there　was　something　hidden　under　these　mystic　and　figurative　terms；　in　which　the　Moors　were　often　accustomed　to　talk。　　He　motioned　to　his　attendants　to　retire。　　When　they　were　alone　the　Moor　looked　cautiously　around　the　apartment；　and　then；　approaching　close　to　the　knight；　demanded　in　a　low　voice；　〃What　will　you　give　me　if　I　deliver　the　fortress　of　Zalea　into　your　hands？〃

Don　Gutiere　looked　with　surprise　at　the　humble　individual　that　made　such　a　suggestion。

〃What　means　have　you；〃　said　he；　〃of　effecting　such　a　proposition？〃

〃I　have　a　brother　in　the　garrison　of　Zalea；〃　replied　the　Moor；　〃who　for　a　proper　compensation　would　admit　a　body　of　troops　into　the　citadel。〃

Don　Gutiere　turned　a　scrutinizing　eye　upon　the　Moor。　　〃What　right　have　I　to　believe；〃　said　he；　〃that　thou　wilt　be　truer　to　me　than　to　those　of　thy　blood　and　thy　religion？〃

〃I　renounce　all　ties　to　them；　either　of　blood　or　religion；〃　replied　the　Moor；　〃my　mother　was　a　Christian　captive；　her　country　shall　henceforth　be　my　country；　and　her　faith　my　faith。〃*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios。


The　doubts　of　Don　Gutiere　were　not　dispelled　by　this　profession　of　mongrel　Christianity。　　〃Granting　the　sincerity　of　thy　conversion；〃　said　he；　〃art　thou　under　no　obligations　of　gratitude　or　duty　to　the　alcayde　of　the　fortress　thou　wouldst　betray？〃

The　eyes　of　the　Moor　flashed　fire　at　the　words；　he　gnashed　his　teeth　with　fury。　　〃The　alcayde；〃　cried　he；　〃is　a　dog！　　He　has　deprived　my　brother　of　his　just　share　of　booty；　he　has　robbed　me　of　my　merchandise；　treated　me　worse　than　a　Jew　when　I　murmured　at　his　injustice；　and　ordered　me　to　be　thrust　forth　ignominiously　from　his　walls。　　May　the　curse　of　God　fall　upon　my　head　if　I　rest　content　until　I　have　full　revenge！〃　　〃Enough；〃　said　Don　Gutiere：　〃I　trust　more　to　thy　revenge　than　thy　religion。〃

The　good　clavero　called　a　council　of　his　officers。　　The　knights　of　Calatrava　were　unanimous　for　the　enterprisezealous　to　appease　the　manes　of　their　slaughtered　comrades。　　Don　Gutiere　reminded　them　of　the　state　of　the　garrison；　enfeebled　by　their　late　loss　and　scarcely　sufficient　for　the　defence　of　the　walls。　　The　cavaliers　replied　that　there　was　no　achievement　without　risk；　and　that　there　would　have　been　no　great　actions　recorded　in　history　had　there　not　been　daring　spirits　ready　to　peril　life　to　gain　renown。

Don　Gutiere　yielded　to　the　wishes　of　his　knights；　for　to　have　resisted　any　further　might　have　drawn　on　him　the　imputation　of　timidity：　he　ascertained　by　trusty　spies　that　everything　in　Zalea　remained　in　the　usual　state；　and　he　made　all　the　requisite　arrangements　for　the　attack。

When　the　appointed　night　arrived　all　the　cavaliers　were　anxious　to　engage　in　the　enterprise；　but　the　individuals　were　decided　by　lot。　They　set　out　under　the　guidance　of　the　Moor；　and　when　they　had　arrived　in　the　vicinity　of　Zalea　they　bound　his　hands　behind　his　back；　and　their　leader　pledged　his　knightly　word　to　strike　him　dead　on　the　first　sign　of　treachery。　　He　then　bade　him　to　lead　the　way。

It　was　near　midnight　when　they　reached　the　walls　of　the　fortress。　They　passed　silently　along　until　they　found　themselves　below　the　citadel。　　Here　their　guide　made　a　low　and　preconcerted　signal：　it　was　answered　from　above；　and　a　cord　let　down　from　the　wall。　　The　knights　attached　to　it　a　ladder；　which　was　drawn　up　and　fastened。　　Gutiere　Munoz　was　the　first　that　mounted；　followed　by　Pedro　de　Alvarado；　both　brave　and　hardy　soldiers。　　A　handful　succeeded：　they　were　attacked　by　a　party　of　guards；　but　held　them　at　bay　until　more　of　the