chronicle of the conquest of granada-第68章

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d　that　the　siege　was　pressed　with　great　activity。　The　hermit　scanned　the　encampments　warily　from　his　lofty　height。　　He　saw　that　the　part　of　the　encampment　of　the　marques　of　Cadiz　which　was　at　the　foot　of　the　height　and　on　the　margin　of　the　sea　was　most　assailable；　the　rocky　soil　not　admitting　ditches　or　palisadoes。　Remaining　concealed　all　day；　he　descended　with　his　followers　at　night　to　the　sea…coast　and　approached　silently　to　the　outworks。　He　had　given　them　their　instructions：　they　were　to　rush　suddenly　upon　the　camp；　fight　their　way　through；　and　throw　themselves　into　the　city。

It　was　just　at　the　gray　of　the　dawning；　when　objects　are　obscurely　visible；　that　they　made　this　desperate　attempt。　　Some　sprang　suddenly　upon　the　sentinels；　others　rushed　into　the　sea　and　got　round　the　works；　others　clambered　over　the　breastworks。　　There　was　sharp　skirmishing；　a　great　part　of　the　Moors　were　cut　to　pieces；　but　about　two　hundred　succeeded　in　getting　into　the　gates　of　Malaga。

The　santon　took　no　part　in　the　conflict；　nor　did　he　endeavor　to　enter　the　city。　　His　plans　were　of　a　different　nature。　　Drawing　apart　from　the　battle；　he　threw　himself　on　his　knees　on　a　rising　ground；　and；　lifting　his　hands　to　heaven；　appeared　to　be　absorbed　in　prayer。　　The　Christians；　as　they　were　searching　for　fugitives　in　the　clefts　of　the　rocks；　found　him　at　his　devotions。　　He　stirred　not　at　their　approach；　but　remained　fixed　as　a　statue；　without　changing　color　or　moving　a　muscle。　　Filled　with　surprise；　not　unmingled　with　awe；　they　took　him　to　the　marques　of　Cadiz。　　He　was　wrapped　in　a　coarse　albornoz；　or　Moorish　mantle；　his　beard　was　long　and　grizzled；　and　there　was　something　wild　and　melancholy　in　his　look　that　inspired　curiosity。　　On　being　examined；　he　gave　himself　out　as　a　saint　to　whom　Allah　had　revealed　the　events　that　were　to　take　place　in　that　siege。　　The　marques　demanded　when　and　how　Malaga　was　to　be　taken。　　He　replied　that　he　knew　full　well；　but　he　was　forbidden　to　reveal　those　important　secrets　except　to　the　king　and　queen。　　The　good　marques　was　not　more　given　to　superstitious　fancies　than　other　commanders　of　his　time；　yet　there　seemed　something　singular　and　mysterious　about　this　man；　he　might　have　some　important　intelligence　to　communicate；　so　he　was　persuaded　to　send　him　to　the　king　and　queen。　　He　was　conducted　to　the　royal　tent；　surrounded　by　a　curious　multitude　exclaiming　〃El　Moro　Santo！〃　for　the　news　had　spread　through　the　camp　that　they　had　taken　a　Moorish　prophet。

The　king；　having　dined；　was　taking　his　siesta；　or　afternoon's　sleep；　in　his　tent；　and　the　queen；　though　curious　to　see　this　singular　man；　yet　from　a　natural　delicacy　and　reserve　delayed　until　the　king　should　be　present。　　He　was　taken；　therefore；　to　an　adjoining　tent；　in　which　were　Dona　Beatrix　de　Bovadilla；　marchioness　of　Moya；　and　Don　Alvaro　of　Portugal；　son　of　the　duke　of　Braganza；　with　two　or　three　attendants。　　The　Moor；　ignorant　of　the　Spanish　tongue；　had　not　understood　the　conversation　of　the　guards；　and　supposed；　from　the　magnificence　of　the　furniture　and　the　silken　hangings；　that　this　was　the　royal　tent。　　From　the　respect　paid　by　the　attendants　to　Don　Alvaro　and　the　marchioness　he　concluded　that　they　were　the　king　and　queen。

He　now　asked　for　a　draught　of　water：　a　jar　was　brought　to　him；　and　the　guard　released　his　arm　to　enable　him　to　drink。　　The　marchioness　perceived　a　sudden　change　in　his　countenance　and　something　sinister　in　the　expression　of　his　eye；　and　shifted　her　position　to　a　more　remote　part　of　the　tent。　　Pretending　to　raise　the　water　to　his　lips；　the　Moor　unfolded　his　albornoz；　so　as　to　grasp　a　scimetar　which　he　wore　concealed　beneath；　then；　dashing　down　the　jar；　he　drew　his　weapon　and　gave　Don　Alvaro　a　blow　on　the　head　that　struck　him　to　the　earth　and　nearly　deprived　him　of　life。　　Turning　then　upon　the　marchioness；　he　made　a　violent　blow　at　her；　but　in　his　eagerness　and　agitation　his　scimetar　caught　in　the　drapery　of　the　tent；　the　force　of　the　blow　was　broken；　and　the　weapon　struck　harmless　upon　some　golden　ornaments　of　her　head…dress。*

*Pietro　Martyr；　Epist。　62。


Ruy　Lopez　de　Toledo；　treasurer　to　the　queen；　and　Juan　de　Belalcazar；　a　sturdy　friar；　who　were　present；　grappled　and　struggled　with　the　desperado；　and　immediately　the　guards　who　had　conducted　him　from　the　marques　de　Cadiz　fell　upon　him　and　cut　him　to　pieces。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios


The　king　and　queen；　brought　out　of　their　tents　by　the　noise；　were　filled　with　horror　when　they　learned　the　imminent　peril　from　which　they　had　escaped。　　The　mangled　body　of　the　Moor　was　taken　by　the　people　to　the　camp　and　thrown　into　the　city　from　a　catapult。　　The　Gomeres　gathered　up　the　body　with　deep　reverence　as　the　remains　of　a　saint；　they　washed　and　perfumed　it　and　buried　it　with　great　honor　and　loud　lamentations。　　In　revenge　of　his　death　they　slew　one　of　their　principal　Christian　captives；　and；　having　tied　his　body　upon　an　ass；　they　drove　the　animal　forth　into　the　camp。

From　this　time　there　was　appointed　an　additional　guard　around　the　tents　of　the　king　and　queen；　composed　of　four　hundred　cavaliers　of　rank　of　the　kingdoms　of　Castile　and　Aragon。　　No　person　was　admitted　to　the　royal　presence　armed；　no　Moor　was　allowed　to　enter　the　camp　without　a　previous　knowledge　of　his　character　and　business；　and　on　no　account　was　any　Moor　to　be　introduced　into　the　presence　of　the　sovereigns。

An　act　of　treachery　of　such　ferocious　nature　gave　rise　to　a　train　of　gloomy　apprehensions。　　There　were　many　cabins　and　sheds　about　the　camp　constructed　of　branches　of　trees　which　had　become　dry　and　combustible；　and　fears　were　entertained　that　they　might　be　set　on　fire　by　the　mudexares；　or　Moorish　vassals；　who　visited　the　army。　　Some　even　dreaded　that　attempts　might　be　made　to　poison　the　wells　and　fountains。　　To　quiet　these　dismal　alarms　all　mudexares　were　ordered　to　leave　the　camp；　and　all　loose；　idle　loiterers　who　could　not　give　a　good　account　of　themselves　were　taken　into　custody。



CHAPTER　LX。

HOW　HAMET　EL　ZEGRI　WAS　HARDENED　IN　HIS　OBSTINACY　BY　THE　　　　　ARTS　OF　A　MOORISH　ASTROLOGER。


Among　those　followers　of　the　santon　that　had　effected　their　entrance　into　the　city　was　a　dark　African　of　the　tribe　of　the　Gomeres；　who　was　likewise　a　hermit　or　dervise　and　passed　among　the　Moors　for　a　holy　and　inspired　man。　　No　sooner　were　the　mangled　remains　of　his　predecessor　buried　with　the　honors　of　martyrdom　than　this　dervise　elevated　himself　in　his　place　and　professed　to　be　gifted　with　the　spirit　of　prophecy。　　He　displayed　a　white　banner；　which　he　assured　the　Moors　was　sacred；　that　he　had　retained　it　for　twenty　years　for　some　signal　purpose；　and　that　Allah　had　revealed　to　him　that　under　that　banner　the　inhabitants　of　Malaga　should　sally　forth　upon　the　camp　of　the　unbelievers；　put　it　to　utter　rout；　and　banquet　upon　the　provisions　in　which　it　abounded。*　　The　hungry　and　credulous　Moors　were　elated　at　this　prediction；　and　cried　out　to　be　led　forth　at　once　to　the　attack；　but　the　dervise　told　them　the　time　was　not　yet　arrived；　for　every　event　had　its　allotted　day　in　the　decrees　of　fate：　they　must　wait　patiently；　therefore；　until　the　appointed　time　should　be　revealed　to　him　by　Heaven。　　Hamet　el　Zegri　listened　to　the　dervise　with　profound　reverence；　and　his　example　had　great　effect　in　increasing　the　awe　and　deference　of　his　followers。　　He　took　the　holy　man　up　into　his　stronghold　of　Gibralfaro；　consulted　him　on　all　occasions；　and　hung　out　his　white　banner　on　the　loftiest　tower　as　a　signal　of　encouragement　to　the　people　of　the　city。

*Cura　de　los　Palacios；　cap。　84。


In　the　mean　time；　the　prime　chivalry　of　Spain　was　gradually　assembling　before　the　walls　of　Malaga。　　The　army　which　had　commenced　the　siege　had　been　worn　out　by　extreme　hardships；　having　had　to　construct　immense　works；　to　dig　trenches　and　mines；　to　mount　guard　by　sea　and　land；　to　patrol　the　mountains；　and　to　sustain　incessant　conflicts。　The　sovereigns　were　obliged；　therefore；　to　call　upon　various　distant　cities　for　reinforcements　of　horse　and　foot。　　Many　nobles　also　assembled　their　vassals　and　repaired　of　their　own　accord　to　the　royal　camp。

Every　little　while　some　stately　galley　or　gallant　caravel　would　stand　into　the　harbor；　displaying　the　well…known　banner　of　some　Spanish