chronicle of the conquest of granada-第48章

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　conquered　conquered；　and　the　conqueror　undone）。〃*

*Garibay；　lib。　40；　c。　33。



CHAPTER　XXXVIII。

HOW　KING　FERDINAND　HELD　A　COUNCIL　OF　WAR　AT　THE　ROCK　OF　　　　　THE　LOVERS。


The　royal　army　on　its　march　against　Loxa　lay　encamped　one　pleasant　evening　in　May　in　a　meadow　on　the　banks　of　the　river　Yeguas；　around　the　foot　of　a　lofty　cliff　called　the　Rock　of　the　Lovers。　　The　quarters　of　each　nobleman　formed　as　it　were　a　separate　little　encampment；　his　stately　pavilion；　surmounted　by　his　fluttering　pennon；　rising　above　the　surrounding　tents　of　his　vassals　and　retainers。　　A　little　apart　from　the　others；　as　it　were　in　proud　reserve；　was　the　encampment　of　the　English　earl。　　It　was　sumptuous　in　its　furniture　and　complete　in　all　its　munitions。　　Archers　and　soldiers　armed　with　battle…axes　kept　guard　around　it；　while　above　the　standard　of　England　rolled　out　its　ample　folds　and　flapped　in　the　evening　breeze。

The　mingled　sounds　of　various　tongues　and　nations　were　heard　from　the　soldiery　as　they　watered　their　horses　in　the　stream　or　busied　themselves　round　the　fires　which　began　to　glow　here　and　there　in　the　twilightthe　gay　chanson　of　the　Frenchman；　singing　of　his　amours　on　the　pleasant　banks　of　the　Loire　or　the　sunny　regions　of　the　Garonne；　the　broad　guttural　tones　of　the　German；　chanting　some　doughty　〃krieger　lied〃　or　extolling　the　vintage　of　the　Rhine；　the　wild　romance　of　the　Spaniard；　reciting　the　achievements　of　the　Cid　and　many　a　famous　passage　of　the　Moorish　wars；　and　the　long　and　melancholy　ditty　of　the　Englishman；　treating　of　some　feudal　hero　or　redoubtable　outlaw　of　his　distant　island。

On　a　rising　ground；　commanding　a　view　of　the　whole　encampment；　stood　the　ample　and　magnificent　pavilion　of　the　king；　with　the　banner　of　Castile　and　Aragon　and　the　holy　standard　of　the　cross　erected　before　it。　　In　this　tent　there　assembled　the　principal　commanders　of　the　army；　having　been　summoned　by　Ferdinand　to　a　council　of　war　on　receiving　tidings　that　Boabdil　had　thrown　himself　into　Loxa　with　a　considerable　reinforcement。　　After　some　consultation　it　was　determined　to　invest　Loxa　on　both　sides：　one　part　of　the　army　should　seize　upon　the　dangerous　but　commanding　height　of　Santo　Albohacen　in　front　of　the　city；　while　the　remainder；　making　a　circuit；　should　encamp　on　the　opposite　side。

No　sooner　was　this　resolved　upon　than　the　marques　of　Cadiz　stood　forth　and　claimed　the　post　of　danger　in　behalf　of　himself　and　those　cavaliers；　his　companions…in…arms；　who　had　been　compelled　to　relinquish　it　by　the　general　retreat　of　the　army　on　the　former　siege。　　The　enemy　had　exulted　over　them　as　if　driven　from　it　in　disgrace。　　To　regain　that　perilous　height；　to　pitch　their　tents　upon　it；　and　to　avenge　the　blood　of　their　valiant　compeer；　the　master　of　Calatrava；　who　had　fallen　upon　it；　was　due　to　their　fame：　the　marques　demanded；　therefore；　that　they　might　lead　the　advance　and　secure　that　height；　engaging　to　hold　the　enemy　employed　until　the　main　army　should　take　its　position　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　city。

King　Ferdinand　readily　granted　his　permission；　upon　which　the　count　de　Cabra　entreated　to　be　admitted　to　a　share　of　the　enterprise。　　He　had　always　been　accustomed　to　serve　in　the　advance；　and　now　that　Boabdil　was　in　the　field　and　a　king　was　to　be　taken；　he　could　not　content　himself　with　remaining　in　the　rear。　　Ferdinand　yielded　his　consent；　for　he　was　disposed　to　give　the　good　count　every　opportunity　to　retrieve　his　late　disaster。

The　English　earl；　when　he　heard　there　was　an　enterprise　of　danger　in　question；　was　hot　to　be　admitted　to　the　party；　but　the　king　restrained　his　ardor。　　〃These　cavaliers；〃　said　he；　〃conceive　that　they　have　an　account　to　settle　with　their　pride；　let　them　have　the　enterprise　to　themselves；　my　lord：　if　you　follow　these　Moorish　wars　long；　you　will　find　no　lack　of　perilous　service。〃

The　marques　of　Cadiz　and　his　companions…in…arms　struck　their　tents　before　daybreak；　they　were　five　thousand　horse　and　twelve　thousand　foot；　and　marched　rapidly　along　the　defiles　of　the　mountains；　the　cavaliers　being　anxious　to　strike　the　blow　and　get　possession　of　the　height　of　Albohacen　before　the　king　with　the　main　army　should　arrive　to　their　assistance。

The　city　of　Loxa　stands　on　a　high　hill　between　two　mountains　on　the　banks　of　the　Xenil。　　To　attain　the　height　of　Albohacen　the　troops　had　to　pass　over　a　tract　of　rugged　and　broken　country　and　a　deep　valley　intersected　by　those　canals　and　watercourses　with　which　the　Moors　irrigated　their　lands：　they　were　extremely　embarrassed　in　this　part　of　their　march；　and　in　imminent　risk　of　being　cut　up　in　detail　before　they　could　reach　the　height。

The　count　de　Cabra；　with　his　usual　eagerness；　endeavored　to　push　across　this　valley　in　defiance　of　every　obstacle：　he；　in　consequence；　soon　became　entangled　with　his　cavalry　among　the　canals；　but　his　impatience　would　not　permit　him　to　retrace　his　steps　and　choose　a　more　practicable　but　circuitous　route。　　Others　slowly　crossed　another　part　of　the　valley　by　the　aid　of　pontoons；　while　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　and　the　count　de　Urena；　being　more　experienced　in　the　ground　from　their　former　campaign；　made　a　circuit　round　the　bottom　of　the　height；　and；　winding　up　it；　began　to　display　their　squadrons　and　elevate　their　banners　on　the　redoubtable　post　which　in　their　former　siege　they　had　been　compelled　so　reluctantly　to　abandon。



CHAPTER　XXXIX。

HOW　THE　ROYAL　ARMY　APPEARED　BEFORE　THE　CITY　OF　LOXA；　AND　　　　　HOW　IT　WAS　RECEIVED；　AND　OF　THE　DOUGHTY　ACHIEVEMENTS　　　　　OF　THE　ENGLISH　EARL。


The　advance　of　the　Christian　army　upon　Loxa　threw　the　wavering　Boabdil　el　Chico　into　one　of　his　usual　dilemmas；　and　he　was　greatly　perplexed　between　his　oath　of　allegiance　to　the　Spanish　sovereigns　and　his　sense　of　duty　to　his　subjects。　　His　doubts　were　determined　by　the　sight　of　the　enemy　glittering　upon　the　height　of　Albohacen　and　by　the　clamors　of　the　people　to　be　led　forth　to　battle。　　〃Allah；〃　exclaimed　he；　〃thou　knowest　my　heart：　thou　knowest　I　have　been　true　in　my　faith　to　this　Christian　monarch。　　I　have　offered　to　hold　Loxa　as　his　vassal；　but　he　has　preferred　to　approach　it　as　an　enemy：　on　his　head　be　the　infraction　of　our　treaty！〃

Boabdil　was　not　wanting　in　courage；　he　only　needed　decision。　When　he　had　once　made　up　his　mind　he　acted　vigorously；　the　misfortune　was；　he　either　did　not　make　it　up　at　all　or　he　made　it　up　too　late。　　He　who　decides　tardily　generally　acts　rashly；　endeavoring　to　make　up　by　hurry　of　action　for　slowness　of　deliberation。　　Boabdil　hastily　buckled　on　his　armor　and　sallied　forth　surrounded　by　his　guards；　and　at　the　head　of　five　hundred　horse　and　four　thousand　foot；　the　flower　of　his　army。　　Some　he　detached　to　skirmish　with　the　Christians；　who　were　scattered　and　perplexed　in　the　valley；　and　to　prevent　their　concentrating　their　forces；　while　with　his　main　body　he　pressed　forward　to　drive　the　enemy　from　the　height　of　Albohacen　before　they　had　time　to　collect　there　in　any　number　or　to　fortify　themselves　in　that　important　position。

The　worthy　count　de　Cabra　was　yet　entangled　with　his　cavalry　among　the　water…courses　of　the　valley　when　he　heard　the　war…cries　of　the　Moors　and　saw　their　army　rushing　over　the　bridge。　　He　recognized　Boabdil　himself；　by　his　splendid　armor；　the　magnificent　caparison　of　his　steed；　and　the　brilliant　guard　which　surrounded　him。　　The　royal　host　swept　on　toward　the　height　of　Albohacen：　an　intervening　hill　hid　it　from　his　sight；　but　loud　shouts　and　cries；　the　din　of　drums　and　trumpets；　and　the　reports　of　arquebuses　gave　note　that　the　battle　had　begun。

Here　was　a　royal　prize　in　the　field；　and　the　count　de　Cabra　unable　to　get　into　the　action！　　The　good　cavalier　was　in　an　agony　of　impatience；　every　attempt　to　force　his　way　across　the　valley　only　plunged　him　into　new　difficulties。　　At　length；　after　many　eager　but　ineffectual　efforts；　he　was　obliged　to　order　his　troops　to　dismount；　and　slowly　and　carefully　to　lead　their　horses　back　along　slippery　paths　and　amid　plashes　of　mire　and　water　where　often　there　was　scarce　a　foothold。　　The　good　count　groaned　in　spirit　and　sweat　with　mere　impatience　as　he　went；　fearing　the　battle　might　be　fought　and　the　prize　won　or　lost　before　he　could　reach　the　field。　　Having　at　length　toil