chronicle of the conquest of granada-第84章

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soul；　the　vital　principle；　of　this　great　enterprise。　　While　King　Ferdinand　was　bustling　in　his　camp　and　making　a　glittering　display　with　his　gallant　chivalry；　she；　surrounded　by　her　saintly　counsellors　in　the　episcopal　palace　of　Jaen；　was　devising　ways　and　means　to　keep　the　king　and　his　army　in　existence。　She　had　pledged　herself　to　keep　up　a　supply　of　men　and　money　and　provisions　until　the　city　should　be　taken。　　The　hardships　of　the　siege　caused　a　fearful　waste　of　life；　but　the　supply　of　men　was　the　least　difficult　part　of　her　undertaking。　　So　beloved　was　the　queen　by　the　chivalry　of　Spain　that　on　her　calling　on　them　for　assistance　not　a　grandee　or　cavalier　that　yet　lingered　at　home　but　either　repaired　in　person　or　sent　forces　to　the　camp；　the　ancient　and　warlike　families　vied　with　each　other　in　marshalling　forth　their　vassals；　and　thus　the　besieged　Moors　beheld　each　day　fresh　troops　arriving　before　their　city；　and　new　ensigns　and　pennons　displayed　emblazoned　with　arms　well　known　to　the　veteran　warriors。

But　the　most　arduous　task　was　to　keep　up　a　regular　supply　of　provisions。　　It　was　not　the　army　alone　that　had　to　be　supported；　but　also　the　captured　towns　and　their　garrisons；　for　the　whole　country　around　them　had　been　ravaged；　and　the　conquerors　were　in　danger　of　starving　in　the　midst　of　the　land　they　had　desolated。　　To　transport　the　daily　supplies　for　such　immense　numbers　was　a　gigantic　undertaking　in　a　country　where　there　was　neither　water　conveyance　nor　roads　for　carriages。　　Everything　had　to　be　borne　by　beasts　of　burden　over　rugged　and　broken　paths　of　mountains　and　through　dangerous　defiles　exposed　to　the　attacks　and　plunderings　of　the　Moors。

The　wary　and　calculating　merchants　accustomed　to　supply　the　army　shrank　from　engaging　at　their　own　risk　in　so　hazardous　an　undertaking。　　The　queen　therefore　hired　fourteen　thousand　beasts　of　burden；　and　ordered　all　the　wheat　and　barley　to　be　brought　up　in　Andalusia　and　in　the　domains　of　the　knights　of　Santiago　and　Calatrava。　　She　entrusted　the　administration　of　these　supplies　to　able　and　confidential　persons。　　Some　were　employed　to　collect　the　grain；　others　to　take　it　to　the　mills；　others　to　superintend　the　grinding　and　delivery；　and　others　to　convey　it　to　the　camp。　　To　every　two　hundred　animals　a　muleteer　was　allotted　to　take　charge　of　them　on　the　route。　　Thus　great　lines　of　convoys　were　in　constant　movement；　traversing　to　and　fro；　guarded　by　large　bodies　of　troops　to　defend　them　from　hovering　parties　of　the　Moors。　　Not　a　single　day's　intermission　was　allowed；　for　the　army　depended　upon　the　constant　arrival　of　the　supplies　for　daily　food。　　The　grain　when　brought　into　the　camp　was　deposited　in　an　immense　granary；　and　sold　to　the　army　at　a　fixed　price；　which　was　never　either　raised　or　lowered。

Incredible　were　the　expenses　incurred　in　these　supplies；　but　the　queen　had　ghostly　advisers　thoroughly　versed　in　the　art　of　getting　at　the　resources　of　the　country。　　Many　worthy　prelates　opened　the　deep　purses　of　the　Church；　and　furnished　loans　from　the　revenues　of　their　dioceses　and　convents；　and　their　pious　contributions　were　eventually　rewarded　by　Providence　a　hundred…fold。　　Merchants　and　other　wealthy　individuals；　confident　of　the　punctual　faith　of　the　queen；　advanced　large　sums　on　the　security　of　her　word；　many　noble　families　lent　their　plate　without　waiting　to　be　asked。　　The　queen　also　sold　certain　annual　rents　in　inheritance　at　great　sacrifices；　assigning　the　revenues　of　towns　and　cities　for　the　payment。　　Finding　all　this　insufficient　to　satisfy　the　enormous　expenditure；　she　sent　her　gold　and　plate　and　all　her　jewels　to　the　cities　of　Valencia　and　Barcelona；　where　they　were　pledged　for　a　great　amount　of　money；　which　was　immediately　appropriated　to　keep　up　the　supplies　of　the　army。

Thus　through　the　wonderful　activity；　judgment；　and　enterprise　of　this　heroic　and　magnanimous　woman　a　great　host；　encamped　in　the　heart　of　the　warlike　country　accessible　only　over　mountain…roads；　was　maintained　in　continual　abundance。　　Nor　was　it　supplied　merely　with　the　necessaries　and　comforts　of　life。　　The　powerful　escorts　drew　merchants　and　artificers　from　all　parts　to　repair；　as　if　in　caravans；　to　this　great　military　market。　　In　a　little　while　the　camp　abounded　with　tradesmen　and　artists　of　all　kinds　to　administer　to　the　luxury　and　ostentation　of　the　youthful　chivalry。　　Here　might　be　seen　cunning　artificers　in　steel　and　accomplished　armorers　achieving　those　rare　and　sumptuous　helmets　and　cuirasses；　richly　gilt；　inlaid；　and　embossed；　in　which　the　Spanish　cavaliers　delighted。　　Saddlers　and　harness…makers　and　horse…milliners　also　were　there；　whose　tents　glittered　with　gorgeous　housings　and　caparisons。　　The　merchants　spread　forth　their　sumptuous　silks；　cloths；　brocades；　fine　linen；　and　tapestry。　　The　tents　of　the　nobility　were　prodigally　decorated　with　all　kinds　of　the　richest　stuffs　and　dazzled　the　eye　with　their　magnificence；　nor　could　the　grave　looks　and　grave　speeches　of　King　Ferdinand　prevent　his　youthful　cavaliers　from　vying　with　each　other　in　the　splendor　of　their　dresses　and　caparisons　on　all　occasions　of　parade　and　ceremony。



CHAPTER　LXXVIII。

OF　THE　DISASTERS　WHICH　BEFELL　THE　CAMP。


While　the　Christian　camp；　thus　gay　and　gorgeous；　spread　itself　out　like　a　holiday　pageant　before　the　walls　of　Baza；　while　a　long　line　of　beasts　of　burden　laden　with　provisions　and　luxuries　were　seen　descending　the　valley　from　morning　till　night；　and　pouring　into　the　camp　a　continued　stream　of　abundance；　the　unfortunate　garrison　found　their　resources　rapidly　wasting　away；　and　famine　already　began　to　pinch　the　peaceful　part　of　the　community。

Cid　Hiaya　had　acted　with　great　spirit　and　valor　as　long　as　there　was　any　prospect　of　success；　but　he　began　to　lose　his　usual　fire　and　animation；　and　was　observed　to　pace　the　walls　of　Baza　with　a　pensive　air；　casting　many　a　wistful　look　toward　the　Christian　camp；　and　sinking　into　profound　reveries　and　cogitations。　　The　veteran　alcayde；　Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan；　noticed　these　desponding　moods；　and　endeavored　to　rally　the　spirits　of　the　prince。　　〃The　rainy　season　is　at　hand；〃　would　he　cry；　〃the　floods　will　soon　pour　down　from　the　mountains；　the　rivers　will　overflow　their　banks　and　inundate　the　valleys。　　The　Christian　king　already　begins　to　waver；　he　dare　not　linger　and　encounter　such　a　season　in　a　plain　cut　up　by　canals　and　rivulets。　　A　single　wintry　storm　from　our　mountains　would　wash　away　his　canvas　city　and　sweep　off　those　gay　pavilions　like　wreaths　of　snow　before　the　blast。〃

The　prince　Cid　Hiaya　took　heart　at　these　words；　and　counted　the　days　as　they　passed　until　the　stormy　season　should　commence。　　As　he　watched　the　Christian　camp　he　beheld　it　one　morning　in　universal　commotion：　there　was　an　unusual　sound　of　hammers　in　every　part；　as　if　some　new　engines　of　war　were　constructing。　　At　length；　to　his　astonishment；　the　walls　and　roofs　of　houses　began　to　appear　above　the　bulwarks。　　In　a　little　while　there　were　above　a　thousand　edifices　of　wood　and　plaster　erected；　covered　with　tiles　taken　from　the　demolished　towers　of　the　orchards　and　bearing　the　pennons　of　various　commanders　and　cavaliers；　while　the　common　soldiery　constructed　huts　of　clay　and　branches　of　trees　thatched　with　straw。　　Thus；　to　the　dismay　of　the　Moors；　within　four　days　the　light　tents　and　gay　pavilions　which　had　whitened　their　hills　and　plains　passed　away　like　summer　clouds；　and　the　unsubstantial　camp　assumed　the　solid　appearance　of　a　city　laid　out　into　streets　and　squares。　　In　the　centre　rose　a　large　edifice　which　overlooked　the　whole；　and　the　royal　standard　of　Aragon　and　Castile；　proudly　floating　above　it；　showed　it　to　be　the　palace　of　the　king。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios；　Pulgar；　etc。


Ferdinand　had　taken　the　sudden　resolution　thus　to　turn　his　camp　into　a　city；　partly　to　provide　against　the　approaching　season；　and　partly　to　convince　the　Moors　of　his　fixed　determination　to　continue　the　siege。　　In　their　haste　to　erect　their　dwellings；　however；　the　Spanish　cavaliers　had　not　properly　considered　the　nature　of　the　climate。　　For　the　greater　part　of　the　year　there　scarcely　falls　a　drop　of　rain　on　the　thirsty　soil　of　Andalusia。　　The　ramblas；　or　dry　channels　of　the　torrents；　remain　deep　and　arid　gashes　and　clefts　in