chronicle of the conquest of granada-第49章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


le　might　be　fought　and　the　prize　won　or　lost　before　he　could　reach　the　field。　　Having　at　length　toilfully　unravelled　the　mazes　of　the　valley　and　arrived　at　firmer　ground；　he　ordered　his　troops　to　mount；　and　led　them　full　gallop　to　the　height。　　Part　of　the　good　count's　wishes　were　satisfied；　but　the　dearest　were　disappointed：　he　came　in　season　to　partake　of　the　very　hottest　of　the　fight；　but　the　royal　prize　was　no　longer　in　the　field。

Boabdil　had　led　on　his　men　with　impetuous　valor；　or　rather　with　hurried　rashness。　　Heedlessly　exposing　himself　in　the　front　of　the　battle；　he　received　two　wounds　in　the　very　first　encounter。　　His　guards　rallied　round　him；　defended　him　with　matchless　valor；　and　bore　him　bleeding　out　of　the　action。　　The　count　de　Cabra　arrived　just　in　time　to　see　the　loyal　squadron　crossing　the　bridge　and　slowly　conveying　their　disabled　monarch　toward　the　gate　of　the　city。

The　departure　of　Boabdil　made　no　difference　in　the　fury　of　the　battle。　　A　Moorish　warrior；　dark　and　terrible　in　aspect；　mounted　on　a　black　charger；　and　followed　by　a　band　of　savage　Gomeres；　rushed　forward　to　take　the　lead。　　It　was　Hamet　el　Zegri；　the　fierce　alcayde　of　Ronda；　with　the　remnant　of　his　once…redoubtable　garrison。　Animated　by　his　example；　the　Moors　renewed　their　assaults　upon　the　height。　　It　was　bravely　defended；　on　one　side　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　on　another　by　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　and　as　fast　as　the　Moors　ascended　they　were　driven　back　and　dashed　down　the　declivities。　　The　count　de　Urena　took　his　stand　upon　the　fatal　spot　where　his　brother　had　fallen；　his　followers　entered　with　zeal　into　the　feelings　of　their　commander；　and　heaps　of　the　enemy　sunk　beneath　their　weaponssacrifices　to　the　manes　of　the　lamented　master　of　Calatrava。

The　battle　continued　with　incredible　obstinacy。　　The　Moors　knew　the　importance　of　the　height　to　the　safety　of　the　city；　the　cavaliers　felt　their　honors　staked　to　maintain　it。　　Fresh　supplies　of　troops　were　poured　out　of　the　city：　some　battled　on　the　height；　while　some　attacked　the　Christians　who　were　still　in　the　valley　and　among　the　orchards　and　gardens　to　prevent　their　uniting　their　forces。　　The　troops　in　the　valley　were　gradually　driven　back；　and　the　whole　host　of　the　Moors　swept　around　the　height　of　Albohacen。　　The　situation　of　the　marques　de　Cadiz　and　his　companions　was　perilous　in　the　extreme：　they　were　a　mere　handful；　and；　while　fighting　hand　to　hand　with　the　Moors　who　assailed　the　height；　were　galled　from　a　distance　by　the　crossbows　and　arquebuses　of　a　host　that　augmented　each　moment　in　number。　　At　this　critical　juncture　King　Ferdinand　emerged　from　the　mountains　with　the　main　body　of　the　army；　and　advanced　to　an　eminence　commanding　a　full　view　of　the　field　of　action。　　By　his　side　was　the　noble　English　cavalier；　the　earl　of　Rivers。　　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　witnessed　a　scene　of　Moorish　warfare。　　He　looked　with　eager　interest　at　the　chance…medley　fight　before　him；　where　there　was　the　wild　career　of　cavalry；　the　irregular　and　tumultuous　rush　of　infantry；　and　where　Christian　and　Moor　were　intermingled　in　deadly　struggle。　　The　high　blood　of　the　English　knight　mounted　at　the　sight；　and　his　soul　was　stirred　within　him　by　the　confused　war…cries；　the　clangor　of　drums　and　trumpets；　and　the　reports　of　arquebuses。　　Seeing　that　the　king　was　sending　a　reinforcement　to　the　field；　he　entreated　permission　to　mingle　in　the　affray　and　fight　according　to　the　fashion　of　his　country。　　His　request　being　granted；　he　alighted　from　his　steed：　he　was　merely　armed　〃en　blanco〃that　is　to　say；　with　morion；　back…piece；　and　breast…platehis　sword　was　girded　by　his　side；　and　in　his　hand　he　wielded　a　powerful　battle…axe。　He　was　followed　by　a　body　of　his　yeomen　armed　in　like　manner；　and　by　a　band　of　archers　with　bows　made　of　the　tough　English　yew　tree。　The　earl　turned　to　his　troops　and　addressed　then　briefly　and　bluntly；　according　to　the　manner　of　his　country。　　〃Remember；　my　merry　men　all；〃　said　he；　〃the　eyes　of　strangers　are　upon　you；　you　are　in　a　foreign　land；　fighting　for　the　glory　of　God　and　the　honor　of　merry　old　England！〃　　A　loud　shout　was　the　reply。　　The　earl　waved　his　battle…　axe　over　his　head。　　〃St。　George　for　England！〃　cried　he；　and　to　the　inspiring　sound　of　this　old　English　war…cry　he　and　his　followers　rushed　down　to　the　battle　with　manly　and　courageous　hearts。*　They　soon　made　their　way　into　the　midst　of　the　enemy；　but　when　engaged　in　the　hottest　of　the　fight　they　made　no　shouts　nor　outcries。　They　pressed　steadily　forward；　dealing　their　blows　to　right　and　left；　hewing　down　the　Moors　and　cutting　their　way　with　their　battle…　axes　like　woodmen　in　a　forest；　while　the　archers；　pressing　into　the　opening　they　made；　plied　their　bows　vigorously　and　spread　death　on　every　side。

*Cura　de　los　Palacios。


When　the　Castilian　mountaineers　beheld　the　valor　of　the　English　yeomanry；　they　would　not　be　outdone　in　hardihood。　　They　could　not　vie　with　them　in　weight　or　bulk；　but　for　vigor　and　activity　they　were　surpassed　by　none。　　They　kept　pace　with　them；　therefore；　with　equal　heart　and　rival　prowess；　and　gave　a　brave　support　to　the　stout　Englishmen。

The　Moors　were　confounded　by　the　fury　of　these　assaults　and　disheartened　by　the　loss　of　Hamet　el　Zegri；　who　was　carried　wounded　from　the　field。　　They　gradually　fell　back　upon　the　bridge；　the　Christians　followed　up　their　advantage；　and　drove　them　over　it　tumultuously。　　The　Moors　retreated　into　the　suburb；　and　Lord　Rivers　and　his　troops　entered　with　them　pell…mell；　fighting　in　the　streets　and　in　the　houses。　　King　Ferdinand　came　up　to　the　scene　of　action　with　his　royal　guard；　and　the　infidels　were　driven　within　the　city　walls。　　Thus　were　the　suburbs　gained　by　the　hardihood　of　the　English　lord；　without　such　an　event　having　been　premeditated。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios；　MS。


The　earl　of　Rivers；　notwithstanding　he　had　received　a　wound；　still　urged　forward　in　the　attack。　　He　penetrated　almost　to　the　city　gate；　in　defiance　of　a　shower　of　missiles　that　slew　many　of　his　followers。　A　stone　hurled　from　the　battlements　checked　his　impetuous　career：　it　struck　him　in　the　face；　dashed　out　two　of　his　front　teeth；　and　laid　him　senseless　on　the　earth。　　He　was　removed　to　a　short　distance　by　his　men；　but；　recovering　his　senses；　refused　to　permit　himself　to　be　taken　from　the　suburb。

When　the　contest　was　over　the　streets　presented　a　piteous　spectacle；　so　many　of　their　inhabitants　had　died　in　the　defence　of　their　thresholds　or　been　slaughtered　without　resistance。　Among　the　victims　was　a　poor　weaver　who　had　been　at　work　in　his　dwelling　at　this　turbulent　moment。　　His　wife　urged　him　to　fly　into　the　city。　　〃Why　should　I　fly？〃　said　the　Moor〃to　be　reserved　for　hunger　and　slavery？　　I　tell　you；　wife；　I　will　await　the　foe　here；　for　better　is　it　to　die　quickly　by　the　steel　than　to　perish　piecemeal　in　chains　and　dungeons。〃　　He　said　no　more；　but　resumed　his　occupation　of　weaving；　and　in　the　indiscriminate　fury　of　the　assault　was　slaughtered　at　his　loom。*

*Pulgar；　part　3；　c。　58。


The　Christians　remained　masters　of　the　field；　and　proceeded　to　pitch　three　encampments　for　the　prosecution　of　the　siege。　　The　king；　with　the　great　body　of　the　army；　took　a　position　on　the　side　of　the　city　next　to　Granada；　the　marques　of　Cadiz　and　his　brave　companions　once　more　pitched　their　tents　upon　the　height　of　Santo　Albohacen；　but　the　English　earl　planted　his　standard　sturdily　within　the　suburb　he　had　taken。



CHAPTER　XL。

CONCLUSION　OF　THE　SIEGE　OF　LOXA。


Having　possession　of　the　heights　of　Albohacen　and　the　suburb　of　the　city；　the　Christians　were　enabled　to　choose　the　most　favorable　situations　for　their　batteries。　　They　immediately　destroyed　the　stone　bridge　by　which　the　garrison　had　made　its　sallies；　and　they　threw　two　wooden　bridges　across　the　river　and　others　over　the　canals　and　streams；　so　as　to　establish　an　easy　communication　between　the　different　camps。

When　all　was　arranged　a　heavy　fire　was　opened　upon　the　city　from　various　points。　　They　threw　not　only　balls　of　stone　and　iron；　but　great　carcasses　of　fire；　which　burst　like　meteors　on　the　houses；　wrapping　them　instantly　in　a　blaze。　　The　walls　were　shattered　and　the　towers　toppled　down　by　tremendous　discharges　from　the　lombards。　Through　the　openings　thus　made　t