chronicle of the conquest of granada-第7章

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ts　of　the　castle；　in　the　streets　of　the　town；　the　foe　was　in　all　parts；　wrapped　in　obscurity；　but　acting　in　concert　by　the　aid　of　preconcerted　signals。　Starting　from　sleep；　the　soldiers　were　intercepted　and　cut　down　as　they　rushed　from　their　quarters；　or　if　they　escaped　they　knew　not　where　to　assemble　or　where　to　strike。　　Wherever　lights　appeared　the　flashing　scimetar　was　at　its　deadly　work；　and　all　who　attempted　resistance　fell　beneath　its　edge。

In　a　little　while　the　struggle　was　at　an　end。　　Those　who　were　not　slain　took　refuge　in　the　secret　places　of　their　houses　or　gave　themselves　up　as　captives。　　The　clash　of　arms　ceased；　and　the　storm　continued　its　howling；　mingled　with　the　occasional　shout　of　the　Moorish　soldiery　roaming　in　search　of　plunder。　　While　the　inhabitants　were　trembling　for　their　fate；　a　trumpet　resounded　through　the　streets　summoning　them　all　to　assemble；　unarmed；　in　the　public　square。　　Here　they　were　surrounded　by　soldiery　and　strictly　guarded　until　daybreak。　　When　the　day　dawned　it　was　piteous　to　behold　this　once…prosperous　community；　who　had　laid　down　to　rest　in　peaceful　security；　now　crowded　together　without　distinction　of　age　or　rank　or　sex；　and　almost　without　raiment；　during　the　severity　of　a　wintry　storm。　　The　fierce　Muley　Abul　Hassan　turned　a　deaf　ear　to　all　their　prayers　and　remonstrances；　and　ordered　them　to　be　conducted　captives　to　Granada。　　Leaving　a　strong　garrison　in　both　town　and　castle；　with　orders　to　put　them　in　a　complete　state　of　defence；　he　returned；　flushed　with　victory；　to　his　capital；　entering　it　at　the　head　of　his　troops；　laden　with　spoil　and　bearing　in　triumph　the　banners　and　pennons　taken　at　Zahara。

While　preparations　were　making　for　jousts　and　other　festivities　in　honor　of　this　victory　over　the　Christians；　the　captives　of　Zahara　arriveda　wretched　train　of　men；　women；　and　children；　worn　out　with　fatigue　and　haggard　with　despair；　and　driven　like　cattle　into　the　city　gates　by　a　detachment　of　Moorish　soldiery。

Deep　was　the　grief　and　indignation　of　the　people　of　Granada　at　this　cruel　scene。　　Old　men；　who　had　experienced　the　calamities　of　warfare；　anticipated　coming　troubles。　　Mothers　clasped　their　infants　to　their　breasts　as　they　beheld　the　hapless　females　of　Zahara　with　their　children　expiring　in　their　arms。　　On　every　side　the　accents　of　pity　for　the　sufferers　were　mingled　with　execrations　of　the　barbarity　of　the　king。　The　preparations　for　festivity　were　neglected；　and　the　viands　which　were　to　have　feasted　the　conquerors　were　distributed　among　the　captives。

The　nobles　and　alfaquis；　however；　repaired　to　the　Alhambra　to　congratulate　the　king；　for；　whatever　storms　may　rage　in　the　lower　regions　of　society；　rarely　do　any　clouds　but　clouds　of　incense　rise　to　the　awful　eminence　of　the　throne。　　In　this　instance；　however；　a　voice　rose　from　the　midst　of　the　obsequious　crowd；　and　burst　like　thunder　upon　the　ears　of　Abul　Hassan。　　〃Woe！　woe！　woe！　to　Granada！〃　exclaimed　the　voice；　〃its　hour　of　desolation　approaches。　　The　ruins　of　Zahara　will　fall　upon　our　heads；　my　spirit　tells　me　that　the　end　of　our　empire　is　at　hand。〃　　All　shrank　back　aghast；　and　left　the　denouncer　of　woe　standing　alone　in　the　centre　of　the　hall。　　He　was　an　ancient　and　hoary　man　in　the　rude　attire　of　a　dervise。　　Age　had　withered　his　form　without　quenching　the　fire　of　his　spirit；　which　glared　in　baleful　lustre　from　his　eyes。　　He　was　（say　the　Arabian　historians）　one　of　those　holy　men　termed　santons　who　pass　their　lives　in　hermitages　in　fasting；　meditation；　and　prayer　until　they　attain　to　the　purity　of　saints　and　the　foresight　of　prophets。　　〃He　was；〃　says　the　indignant　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　〃a　son　of　Belial；　one　of　those　fanatic　infidels　possessed　by　the　devil　who　are　sometimes　permitted　to　predict　the　truth　to　their　followers；　but　with　the　proviso　that　their　predictions　shall　be　of　no　avail。〃

The　voice　of　the　santon　resounded　through　the　lofty　hall　of　the　Alhambra；　and　struck　silence　and　awe　into　the　crowd　of　courtly　sycophants。　　Muley　Abul　Hassan　alone　was　unmoved：　he　eyed　the　hoary　anchorite　with　scorn　as　he　stood　dauntless　before　him；　and　treated　his　predictions　as　the　ravings　of　a　maniac。　　The　santon　rushed　from　the　royal　presence；　and；　descending　into　the　city；　hurried　through　its　streets　and　squares　with　frantic　gesticulations。　　His　voice　was　heard　in　every　part　in　awful　denunciation：　〃The　peace　is　broken！　exterminating　war　is　commenced。　　Woe！　woe！　woe　to　Granada！　its　fall　is　at　hand！　desolation　will　dwell　in　its　palaces；　its　strong　men　will　fall　beneath　the　sword；　its　children　and　maidens　be　led　into　captivity。　Zahara　is　but　a　type　of　Granada！〃

Terror　seized　upon　the　populace；　for　they　considered　these　ravings　as　the　inspirations　of　prophecy。　　Some　hid　themselves　in　their　dwellings　as　in　a　time　of　general　mourning；　while　some　gathered　together　in　knots　in　the　streets　and　squares；　alarming　each　other　with　dismal　forebodings　and　cursing　the　rashness　and　cruelty　of　the　king。

The　Moorish　monarch　heeded　not　their　murmurs。　　Knowing　that　his　exploit　must　draw　upon　him　the　vengeance　of　the　Christians；　he　now　threw　off　all　reserve；　and　made　attempts　to　surprise　Castellan　and　Elvira；　though　without　success。　　He　sent　alfaquis　also　to　the　Barbary　powers；　informing　them　that　the　sword　was　drawn；　and　inviting　the　African　princes　to　aid　him　with　men　and　supplies　in　maintaining　the　kingdom　of　Granada　and　the　religion　of　Mahomet　against　the　violence　of　unbelievers。

While　discontent　exhaled　itself　in　murmurs　among　the　common　people；　however；　it　fomented　in　dangerous　conspiracies　among　the　nobles；　and　Muley　Abul　Hassan　was　startled　by　information　of　a　design　to　depose　him　and　place　his　son　Boabdil　upon　the　throne。　　His　first　measure　was　to　confine　the　prince　and　his　mother　in　the　Tower　of　Comares；　then；　calling　to　mind　the　prediction　of　the　astrologers；　that　the　youth　would　one　day　sit　on　the　throne　of　Granada；　he　impiously　set　the　stars　at　defiance。　　〃The　sword　of　the　executioner；〃　said　he；　〃shall　prove　the　fallacy　of　those　lying　horoscopes；　and　shall　silence　the　ambition　of　Boabdil。〃

The　sultana　Ayxa；　apprised　of　the　imminent　danger　of　her　son；　concerted　a　plan　for　his　escape。　　At　the　dead　of　the　night　she　gained　access　to　his　prison；　and；　tying　together　the　shawls　and　scarfs　of　herself　and　her　female　attendants；　lowered　him　down　from　a　balcony　of　the　Alhambra　to　the　steep　rocky　hillside　which　sweeps　down　to　the　Darro。　　Here　some　of　her　devoted　adherents　were　waiting　to　receive　him；　who；　mounting　him　on　a　swift　horse；　spirited　him　away　to　the　city　of　Guadix；　in　the　Alpuxarras。



CHAPTER　V。

EXPEDITION　OF　THE　MARQUES　OF　CADIZ　AGAINST　ALHAMA。


Great　was　the　indignation　of　King　Ferdinand　when　he　heard　of　the　storming　of　Zahara；　though　the　outrage　of　the　Moor　happened　most　opportunely。　　The　war　between　Castile　and　Portugal　had　come　to　a　close；　the　factions　of　Spanish　nobles　were　for　the　most　part　quelled。　The　Castilian　monarchs　had　now；　therefore；　turned　their　thoughts　to　the　cherished　object　of　their　ambition；　the　conquest　of　Granada。　The　pious　heart　of　Isabella　yearned　to　behold　the　entire　Peninsula　redeemed　from　the　domination　of　the　infidel；　while　Ferdinand；　in　whom　religious　zeal　was　mingled　with　temporal　policy；　looked　with　a　craving　eye　to　the　rich　territory　of　the　Moor；　studded　with　wealthy　towns　and　cities。　　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　rashly　or　unwarily　thrown　the　brand　that　was　to　produce　the　wide　conflagration。　　Ferdinand　was　not　the　one　to　quench　the　flames。　　He　immediately　issued　orders　to　all　the　adelantados　and　alcaydes　of　the　frontiers　to　maintain　the　utmost　vigilance　at　their　several　posts；　and　to　prepare　to　carry　fire　and　sword　into　the　territories　of　the　Moors。

Among　the　many　valiant　cavaliers　who　rallied　round　the　throne　of　Ferdinand　and　Isabella；　one　of　the　most　eminent　in　rank　and　renowned　in　arms　was　Don　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz。　　As　he　was　the　distinguished　champion　of　this　holy　war；　and　commanded　in　most　of　its　enterprises　and　battles；　it　is　meet　that　some　particular　account　should　be　given　of　him。　　He　was　born　in　1443　of　the　valiant　lineage　of　the　Ponces；　and　from　his　earliest　youth　had　rendered　himself　illustrious　in　the　field。　　He　was　of　the　middle　stature；　with　a　muscular　and