chronicle of the conquest of granada-第78章

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ults；　yet　governed　in　their　utmost　fury　by　a　word　or　sign　from　their　commander；　at　the　sound　of　a　trumpet　they　would　check　themselves　in　the　midst　of　their　career；　wheel　off　and　disperse；　and　at　another　sound　of　a　trumpet　they　would　as　suddenly　reassemble　and　return　to　the　attack。　　They　were　upon　the　enemy　when　least　expected；　coming　like　a　rushing　blast；　spreading　havoc　and　consternation；　and　then　passing　away　in　an　instant；　so　that　when　one　recovered　from　the　shock　and　looked　around；　behold；　nothing　was　to　be　seen　or　heard　of　this　tempest　of　war　but　a　cloud　of　dust　and　the　clatter　of　retreating　hoofs。**

*This　name　has　generally　been　written　Cidi　Yahye。　　The　present　mode　　is　adopted　on　the　authority　of　Alcantara　in　his　History　of　Granada；　　who　appears　to　have　derived　it　from　Arabic　manuscripts　existing　in　　the　archives　of　the　marques　de　Corvera；　descendant　of　Cid　Hiaya。　　The　latter　（Cid　Hiaya）　was　son　of　Aben　Zelim；　a　deceased　prince　of　　Almeria；　and　was　a　lineal　descendant　from　the　celebrated　Aben　Hud；　　surnamed　the　Just。　　The　wife　of　Cid　Hiaya　was　sister　of　the　two　　Moorish　generals；　Abul　Cacim　and　Reduan　Vanegas；　and；　like　them；　　the　fruit　of　the　union　of　a　Christian　knight；　Don　Pedro　Vanegas；　with　　Cetimerien；　a　Moorish　princess。

**Pulgar；　part　3；　c。　106。


When　Cid　Hiaya　led　his　train　of　ten　thousand　valiant　warriors　into　the　gates　of　Baza；　the　city　rang　with　acclamations　and　for　a　time　the　inhabitants　thought　themselves　secure。　　El　Zagal　also　felt　a　glow　of　confidence；　notwithstanding　his　own　absence　from　the　city。　　〃Cid　Hiaya；〃　said　he；　〃is　my　cousin　and　my　brother…in…law；　related　to　me　by　blood　and　marriage；　he　is　a　second　self：　happy　is　that　monarch　who　has　his　kindred　to　command　his　armies。〃

With　all　these　reinforcements　the　garrison　of　Baza　amounted　to　above　twenty　thousand　men。　　There　were　at　this　time　three　principal　leaders　in　the　city：　Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan；　surnamed　the　Veteran；　who　was　military　governor　or　alcayde；　an　old　Moor　of　great　experience　and　discretion；　the　second　was　Hamet　Abu　Zali；　who　was　captain　of　the　troops　stationed　in　the　place；　and　the　third　was　Hubec　Abdilbar；　late　alcayde　of　Zujar；　who　had　repaired　hither　with　the　remains　of　his　garrison。　　Over　all　these　Cid　Hiaya　exercised　a　supreme　command　in　consequence　of　his　being　of　the　blood…royal　and　in　the　especial　confidence　of　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal。　　He　was　eloquent　and　ardent　in　council；　and　fond　of　striking　and　splendid　achievements；　but　he　was　a　little　prone　to　be　carried　away　by　the　excitement　of　the　moment　and　the　warmth　of　his　imagination。　　The　councils　of　war　of　these　commanders；　therefore；　were　more　frequently　controlled　by　the　opinions　of　the　old　alcayde　Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan；　for　whose　shrewdness；　caution；　and　experience　Cid　Hiaya　himself　felt　the　greatest　deference。

The　city　of　Baza　was　situated　in　a　great　valley；　eight　leagues　in　length　and　three　in　breadth；　called　the　Hoya；　or　Basin；　of　Baza。　It　was　surrounded　by　a　range　of　mountains　called　the　Sierra　of　Xabalcohol；　the　streams　of　which；　collecting　themselves　into　two　rivers；　watered　and　fertilized　the　country。　　The　city　was　built　in　the　plain；　one　part　of　it　protected　by　the　rocky　precipices　of　the　mountain　and　by　a　powerful　citadel；　the　other　by　massive　walls　studded　with　immense　towers。　　It　had　suburbs　toward　the　plain　imperfectly　fortified　by　earthen　walls。　　In　front　of　these　suburbs　extended　a　tract　of　orchards　and　gardens　nearly　a　league　in　length；　so　thickly　planted　as　to　resemble　a　continued　forest。　　Here　every　citizen　who　could　afford　it　had　his　little　plantation　and　his　garden　of　fruits　and　flowers　and　vegetables；　watered　by　canals　and　rivulets　and　dominated　by　a　small　tower　for　recreation　or　defence。　　This　wilderness　of　groves　and　gardens；　intersected　in　all　parts　by　canals　and　runs　of　water；　and　studded　by　above　a　thousand　small　towers；　formed　a　kind　of　protection　to　this　side　of　the　city；　rendering　all　approach　extremely　difficult　and　perplexed。

While　the　Christian　army　had　been　detained　before　the　frontier　posts；　the　city　of　Baza　had　been　a　scene　of　hurried　and　unremitting　preparation。　　All　the　grain　of　the　surrounding　valley；　though　yet　unripe；　was　hastily　reaped　and　borne　into　the　city　to　prevent　it　from　yielding　sustenance　to　the　enemy。　　The　country　was　drained　of　all　its　supplies；　flocks　and　herds　were　driven；　bleating　and　bellowing；　into　the　gates：　long　trains　of　beasts　of　burden；　some　laden　with　food；　others　with　lances；　darts；　and　arms　of　all　kinds；　kept　pouring　into　the　place。　　Already　were　munitions　collected　sufficient　for　a　siege　of　fifteen　months：　still；　the　eager　and　hasty　preparation　was　going　on　when　the　army　of　Ferdinand　came　in　sight。

On　one　side　might　be　seen　scattered　parties　of　foot　and　horse　spurring　to　the　gates；　and　muleteers　hurrying　forward　their　burdened　animals；　all　anxious　to　get　under　shelter　before　the　gathering　storm；　on　the　other　side；　the　cloud　of　war　came　sweeping　down　the　valley；　the　roll　of　drum　or　clang　of　trumpet　resounding　occasionally　from　its　deep　bosom；　or　the　bright　glance　of　arms　flashing　forth　like　vivid　lightning　from　its　columns。　　King　Ferdinand　pitched　his　tents　in　the　valley　beyond　the　green　labyrinth　of　gardens。　　He　sent　his　heralds　to　summon　the　city　to　surrender；　promising　the　most　favorable　terms　in　case　of　immediate　compliance；　and　avowing　in　the　most　solemn　terms　his　resolution　never　to　abandon　the　siege　until　he　had　possession　of　the　place。

Upon　receiving　this　summons　the　Moorish　commanders　held　a　council　of　war。　　The　prince　Cid　Hiaya；　indignant　at　the　menaces　of　the　king；　was　for　retorting　by　a　declaration　that　the　garrison　never　would　surrender；　but　would　fight　until　buried　under　the　ruins　of　the　walls。　〃Of　what　avail；〃　said　the　veteran　Mohammed；　〃is　a　declaration　of　the　kind；　which　we　may　falsify　by　our　deeds？　　Let　us　threaten　what　we　know　we　can　perform；　and　let　us　endeavor　to　perform　more　than　we　threaten。〃

In　conformity　to　his　advice；　therefore；　a　laconic　reply　was　sent　to　the　Christian　monarch；　thanking　him　for　his　offer　of　favorable　terms；　but　informing　him　that　they　were　placed　in　the　city　to　defend；　not　to　surrender　it。



CHAPTER　LXXI。

THE　BATTLE　OF　THE　GARDENS　BEFORE　BAZA。


When　the　reply　of　the　Moorish　commanders　was　brought　to　King　Ferdinand；　he　prepared　to　press　the　siege　with　the　utmost　vigor。　Finding　the　camp　too　far　from　the　city；　and　that　the　intervening　orchards　afforded　shelter　for　the　sallies　of　the　Moors；　he　determined　to　advance　it　beyond　the　gardens；　in　the　space　between　them　and　the　suburbs；　where　his　batteries　would　have　full　play　upon　the　city　walls。　　A　detachment　was　sent　in　advance　to　take　possession　of　the　gardens　and　keep　a　check　upon　the　suburbs；　opposing　any　sally　while　the　encampment　should　be　formed　and　fortified。　　The　various　commanders　entered　the　orchards　at　different　points。　　The　young　cavaliers　marched　fearlessly　forward；　but　the　experienced　veterans　foresaw　infinite　peril　in　the　mazes　of　this　verdant　labyrinth。　　The　master　of　St。　Jago；　as　he　led　his　troops　into　the　centre　of　the　gardens；　exhorted　them　to　keep　by　one　another；　and　to　press　forward　in　defiance　of　all　difficulty　or　danger；　assuring　them　that　God　would　give　them　the　victory　if　they　attacked　hardily　and　persisted　resolutely。

Scarce　had　they　entered　the　verge　of　the　orchards　when　a　din　of　drums　and　trumpets；　mingled　with　war…cries；　was　heard　from　the　suburbs；　and　a　legion　of　Moorish　warriors　on　foot　poured　forth。　　They　were　led　on　by　the　prince　Cid　Hiaya。　　He　saw　the　imminent　danger　of　the　city　should　the　Christians　gain　possession　of　the　orchards。　〃Soldiers；〃　he　cried；　〃we　fight　for　life　and　liberty；　for　our　families；　our　country；　our　religion；*　nothing　is　left　for　us　to　depend　upon　but　the　strength　of　our　hands；　the　courage　of　our　hearts；　and　the　almighty　protection　of　Allah。〃　　The　Moors　answered　him　with　shouts　of　war　and　rushed　to　the　encounter。　　The　two　hosts　met　in　the　midst　of　the　gardens。　　A　chance…medley　combat　ensued　with　lances；　arquebuses；　crossbows；　and　scimetars；　the　perplexed　nature　of　the　ground；　cut　up　and　intersected　by　canals　and　streams；　the　closeness　of　the　trees；　the　multiplicity　of　towers　and　petty　edifices；　gave　greater　advantages　to　the　Moors；　who　were　on　fo