chronicle of the conquest of granada-第63章

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　of　Hamet　was　haughty　and　decided。　　〃The　city　of　Malaga　has　been　confided　to　me；〃　said　he〃not　to　be　surrendered；　but　defended；　and　the　king　shall　witness　how　I　acquit　myself　of　my　charge。〃*

*Pulgar；　part　3；　cap。　74。


His　mission　at　an　end；　Hernan　del　Pulgar　rode　slowly　and　deliberately　through　the　city；　utterly　regardless　of　the　scowls　and　menaces　and　scarcely　restrained　turbulence　of　the　multitude；　and　bore　to　Ferdinand　at　Velez　the　haughty　answer　of　the　Moor；　but　at　the　same　time　gave　him　a　formidable　account　of　the　force　of　the　garrison；　the　strength　of　the　fortifications；　and　the　determined　spirit　of　the　commander　and　his　men。　　The　king　immediately　sent　orders　to　have　the　heavy　artillery　forwarded　from　Antiquera；　and　on　the　7th　of　May　marched　with　his　army　toward　Malaga。



CHAPTER　LIII。

ADVANCE　OF　KING　FERDINAND　AGAINST　MALAGA。


The　army　of　Ferdinand　advanced　in　lengthened　line；　glittering　along　the　foot　of　the　mountains　which　border　the　Mediterranean；　while　a　fleet　of　vessels；　freighted　with　heavy　artillery　and　warlike　munitions；　kept　pace　with　it　at　a　short　distance　from　the　land；　covering　the　sea　with　a　thousand　gleaming　sails。　　When　Hamet　el　Zegri　saw　this　force　approaching；　he　set　fire　to　the　houses　of　the　suburbs　which　adjoined　the　walls　and　sent　forth　three　battalions　to　encounter　the　advance　guard　of　the　enemy。

The　Christian　army　drew　near　to　the　city　at　that　end　where　the　castle　and　rocky　height　of　Gibralfaro　defended　the　seaboard。　Immediately　opposite；　at　about　two　bow…shots'　distance；　stood　the　castle；　and　between　it　and　the　high　chain　of　mountains　was　a　steep　and　rocky　hill；　at　present　called　the　hill　of　St。　Christobal；　commanding　a　pass　through　which　the　Christians　must　march　to　penetrate　to　the　vega　and　surround　the　city。　　Hamet　ordered　the　three　battalions　to　take　their　stationsone　on　this　hill；　another　in　the　pass　near　the　castle；　and　a　third　on　the　side　of　the　mountain　near　the　sea。

A　body　of　Spanish　foot…soldiers　of　the　advance　guard；　sturdy　mountaineers　of　Galicia；　sprang　forward　to　climb　the　side　of　the　height　next　the　sea；　at　the　same　time　a　number　of　cavaliers　and　hidalgos　of　the　royal　household　attacked　the　Moors　who　guarded　the　pass　below。　　The　Moors　defended　their　posts　with　obstinate　valor。　　The　Galicians　were　repeatedly　overpowered　and　driven　down　the　hill；　but　as　often　rallied；　and；　being　reinforced　by　the　hidalgos　and　cavaliers；　returned　to　the　assault。　　This　obstinate　struggle　lasted　for　six　hours：　the　strife　was　of　a　deadly　kind；　not　merely　with　crossbows　and　arquebuses；　but　hand　to　hand　with　swords　and　daggers；　no　quarter　was　claimed　or　given　on　either　sidethey　fought　not　to　make　captives；　but　to　slay。　　It　was　but　the　advance　of　the　Christian　army　that　was　engaged；　so　narrow　was　the　pass　along　the　coast　that　the　army　could　proceed　only　in　file：　horse　and　foot　and　beasts　of　burden　were　crowded　one　upon　another；　impeding　each　other　and　blocking　up　the　narrow　and　rugged　defile。　　The　soldiers　heard　the　uproar　of　the　battle；　the　sound　of　trumpets；　and　the　war…cries　of　the　Moors；　but　tried　in　vain　to　press　forward　to　the　assistance　of　their　companions。

At　length　a　body　of　foot…soldiers　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood　climbed　with　great　difficulty　the　steep　side　of　the　mountain　which　overhung　the　pass；　and　advanced　with　seven　banners　displayed。　　The　Moors；　seeing　this　force　above　them；　abandoned　the　pass　in　despair。　　The　battle　was　still　raging　on　the　height；　the　Galicians；　though　supported　by　Castilian　troops　under　Don　Hurtado　de　Mendoza　and　Garcilasso　de　la　Vega；　were　severely　pressed　and　roughly　handled　by　the　Moors：　at　length　a　brave　standard…bearer；　Luys　Mazeda　by　name；　threw　himself　into　the　midst　of　the　enemy　and　planted　his　banner　on　the　summit。　　The　Galicians　and　Castilians；　stimulated　by　this　noble　self…　devotion；　followed　him；　fighting　desperately；　and　the　Moors　were　at　length　driven　to　their　castle　of　Gibralfaro。*

*Pulgar；　Cronica。


This　important　height　being　taken；　the　pass　lay　open　to　the　army；　but　by　this　time　evening　was　advancing；　and　the　host　was　too　weary　and　exhausted　to　seek　proper　situations　for　the　encampment。　　The　king；　attended　by　several　grandees　and　cavaliers；　went　the　rounds　at　night；　stationing　outposts　toward　the　city　and　guards　and　patrols　to　give　the　alarm　on　the　least　movement　of　the　enemy。　　All　night　the　Christians　lay　upon　their　arms；　lest　there　should　be　some　attempt　to　sally　forth　and　attack　them。

When　the　morning　dawned　the　king　gazed　with　admiration　at　this　city　which　he　hoped　soon　to　add　to　his　dominions。　　It　was　surrounded　on　one　side　by　vineyards；　gardens；　and　orchards；　which　covered　the　hills　with　verdure；　on　the　other　side　its　walls　were　bathed　by　the　smooth　and　tranquil　sea。　　Its　vast　and　lofty　towers　and　prodigious　castles；　hoary　with　age；　yet　unimpaired　in　strength；　showed　the　labors　of　magnanimous　men　in　former　times　to　protect　their　favorite　abode。　　Hanging　gardens；　groves　of　oranges；　citrons；　and　pomegranates；　with　tall　cedars　and　stately　palms；　were　mingled　with　the　stern　battlements　and　towers；　bespeaking　the　opulence　and　luxury　that　reigned　within。

In　the　mean　time；　the　Christian　army　poured　through　the　pass；　and；　throwing　out　its　columns　and　extending　its　lines；　took　possession　of　every　vantage…ground　around　the　city。　　King　Ferdinand　surveyed　the　ground　and　appointed　the　stations　of　the　different　commanders。

The　important　mount　of　St。　Christobal；　which　had　cost　so　violent　a　struggle　and　faced　the　powerful　fortress　of　Gibralfaro；　was　given　in　charge　to　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz；　who　in　all　sieges　claimed　the　post　of　danger。　　He　had　several　noble　cavaliers　with　their　retainers　in　his　encampment；　which　consisted　of　fifteen　hundred　horse　and　fourteen　thousand　foot；　and　extended　from　the　summit　of　the　mount　to　the　margin　of　the　sea；　completely　blocking　up　the　approach　to　the　city　on　that　side。　　From　this　post　a　line　of　encampments　extended　quite　round　the　city　to　the　seaboard；　fortified　by　bulwarks　and　deep　ditches；　while　a　fleet　of　armed　ships　and　galleys　stretched　before　the　harbor；　so　that　the　place　was　completely　invested　by　sea　and　land。　　The　various　parts　of　the　valley　now　resounded　with　the　din　of　preparation；　and　was　filled　with　artificers　preparing　warlike　engines　and　munitions；　armorers　and　smiths　with　glowing　forges　and　deafening　hammers；　carpenters　and　engineers　constructing　machines　wherewith　to　assail　the　walls；　stone…cutters　shaping　stone　balls　for　the　ordnance；　and　burners　of　charcoal　preparing　fuel　for　the　furnaces　and　forges。

When　the　encampment　was　formed　the　heavy　ordnance　was　landed　from　the　ships　and　mounted　in　various　parts　of　the　camp。　　Five　huge　lombards　were　placed　on　the　mount　commanded　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　so　as　to　bear　upon　the　castle　of　Gibralfaro。

The　Moors　made　strenuous　efforts　to　impede　these　preparations。　They　kept　up　a　heavy　fire　from　their　ordnance　upon　the　men　employed　in　digging　trenches　or　constructing　batteries；　so　that　the　latter　had　to　work　principally　in　the　night。　　The　royal　tents　had　been　stationed　conspicuously　and　within　reach　of　the　Moorish　batteries；　but　were　so　warmly　assailed　that　they　had　to　be　removed　behind　a　hill。

When　the　works　were　completed　the　Christian　batteries　opened　in　return；　and　kept　up　a　tremendous　cannonade；　while　the　fleet；　approaching　the　land；　assailed　the　city　vigorously　on　the　opposite　side。

〃It　was　a　glorious　and　delectable　sight；〃　observes　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　〃to　behold　this　infidel　city　thus　surrounded　by　sea　and　land　by　a　mighty　Christian　force。　　Every　mound　in　its　circuit　was；　as　it　were；　a　little　city　of　tents　bearing　the　standard　of　some　renowned　Catholic　warrior。　　Besides　the　warlike　ships　and　galleys　which　lay　before　the　place；　the　sea　was　covered　with　innumerable　sails；　passing　and　repassing；　appearing　and　disappearing；　being　engaged　in　bringing　supplies　for　the　subsistence　of　the　army。　　It　seemed　a　vast　spectacle　contrived　to　recreate　the　eye；　did　not　the　volleying　bursts　of　flame　and　smoke　from　the　ships；　which　seemed　to　lie　asleep　on　the　quiet　sea；　and　the　thunder　of　ordnance　from　camp　and　city；　from　tower　and　battlement；　tell　the　deadly　warfare　that　was　waging。

〃At　night　the　scene　was　far　more　direful