chronicle of the conquest of granada-第86章

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：　so　he　wrote　forthwith　to　Queen　Isabella　praying　her　to　come　to　the　camp　in　state；　with　all　her　train　and　retinue；　and　publicly　to　take　up　her　residence　there　for　the　winter。　　By　this　means　the　Moors　would　be　convinced　of　the　settled　determination　of　the　sovereigns　to　persist　in　the　siege　until　the　city　should　surrender；　and　he　trusted　they　would　be　brought　to　speedy　capitulation。



CHAPTER　LXXX。

HOW　QUEEN　ISABELLA　ARRIVED　AT　THE　CAMP；　AND　THE　　　　　CONSEQUENCES　OF　HER　ARRIVAL。


Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan　still　encouraged　his　companions　with　hopes　that　the　royal　army　would　soon　relinquish　the　siege；　when　they　heard　one　day　shouts　of　joy　from　the　Christian　camp　and　thundering　salvos　of　artillery。　　Word　was　brought　at　the　same　time；　from　the　sentinels　on　the　watch…towers；　that　a　Christian　army　was　approaching　down　the　valley。　　Mohammed　and　his　fellow…commanders　ascended　one　of　the　highest　towers　of　the　walls；　and　beheld　in　truth　a　numerous　force　in　shining　array　descending　the　hills；　and　heard　the　distant　clangor　of　the　trumpet　and　the　faint　swell　of　triumphant　music。

As　the　host　drew　nearer　they　descried　a　stately　dame　magnificently　attired；　whom　they　soon　discovered　to　be　the　queen。　　She　was　riding　on　a　mule　the　sumptuous　trappings　of　which　were　resplendent　with　gold　and　reached　to　the　ground。　　On　her　right　hand　rode　her　daughter；　the　princess　Isabella；　equally　splendid　in　her　array；　and　on　her　left　the　venerable　grand　cardinal　of　Spain。　　A　noble　train　of　ladies　and　cavaliers　followed；　together　with　pages　and　esquires；　and　a　numerous　guard　of　hidalgos　of　high　rank　arrayed　in　superb　armor。　When　the　veteran　Mohammed　beheld　the　queen　thus　arriving　in　state　to　take　up　her　residence　in　the　camp；　he　shook　his　head　mournfully；　and；　turning　to　his　captains；　〃Cavaliers；〃　said　he；　〃the　fate　of　Baza　is　decided。〃

The　Moorish　commanders　remained　gazing　with　a　mingled　feeling　of　grief　and　admiration　at　this　magnificent　pageant；　which　foreboded　the　fall　of　their　city。　　Some　of　the　troops　would　have　sallied　forth　on　one　of　their　desperate　skirmishes　to　attack　the　royal　guard；　but　the　prince　Cid　Hiaya　forbade　them；　nor　would　he　allow　any　artillery　to　be　discharged　or　any　molestation　or　insult　offered；　for　the　character　of　Isabella　was　venerated　even　by　the　Moors；　and　most　of　the　commanders　possessed　that　high　and　chivalrous　courtesy　which　belongs　to　heroic　spirits；　for　they　were　among　the　noblest　and　bravest　of　the　Moorish　cavaliers。

The　inhabitants　of　Baza　eagerly　sought　every　eminence　that　could　command　a　view　of　the　plain；　and　every　battlement　and　tower　and　mosque　was　covered　with　turbaned　heads　gazing　at　the　glorious　spectacle。　　They　beheld　King　Ferdinand　issue　forth　in　royal　state；　attended　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　the　master　of　Santiago；　the　duke　of　Alva；　the　admiral　of　Castile；　and　many　other　nobles　of　renown；　while　the　whole　chivalry　of　the　camp；　sumptuously　arrayed；　followed　in　his　train；　and　the　populace　rent　the　air　with　acclamations　at　the　sight　of　the　patriotic　queen。

When　the　sovereigns　had　met　and　embraced；　the　two　hosts　mingled　together　and　entered　the　camp　in　martial　pomp；　and　the　eyes　of　the　infidel　beholders　were　dazzled　by　the　flash　of　armor；　the　splendor　of　golden　caparisons；　the　gorgeous　display　of　silks；　brocades；　and　velvets；　of　tossing　plumes　and　fluttering　banners。　　There　was　at　the　same　time　a　triumphant　sound　of　drums　and　trumpets；　clarions　and　sackbuts；　mingled　with　the　sweet　melody　of　the　dulcimer；　which　came　swelling　in　bursts　of　harmony　that　seemed　to　rise　up　to　the　heavens。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios；　c。　92。


On　the　arrival　of　the　queen　（says　the　historian　Hernando　del　Pulgar；　who　was　present　at　the　time）　it　was　marvellous　to　behold　how　all　at　once　the　rigor　and　turbulence　of　war　were　softened　and　the　storm　of　passion　sank　into　a　calm。　　The　sword　was　sheathed；　the　crossbow　no　longer　launched　its　deadly　shafts；　and　the　artillery；　which　had　hitherto　kept　up　an　incessant　uproar；　now　ceased　its　thundering。　On　both　sides　there　was　still　a　vigilant　guard　kept　up；　the　sentinels　bristled　the　walls　of　Baza　with　their　lances；　and　the　guards　patrolled　the　Christian　camp；　but　there　was　no　sallying　forth　to　skirmish　nor　any　wanton　violence　or　carnage。*

*Many　particulars　of　the　scenes　and　occurrences　at　the　siege　of　　Baza　are　also　furnished　in　the　letters　of　the　learned　Peter　Martyr；　　who　was　present　and　an　admiring　eye…witness。


Prince　Cid　Hiaya　saw　by　the　arrival　of　the　queen　that　the　Christians　were　determined　to　continue　the　siege；　and　he　knew　that　the　city　would　have　to　capitulate。　　He　had　been　prodigal　of　the　lives　of　his　soldiers　as　long　as　he　thought　a　military　good　was　to　be　gained　by　the　sacrifice；　but　he　was　sparing　of　their　blood　in　a　hopeless　cause；　and　weary　of　exasperating　the　enemy　by　an　obstinate　yet　hopeless　defence。

At　the　request　of　the　prince　a　parley　was　granted；　and　the　master　commander　of　Leon；　Don　Gutierrez　de　Cardenas；　was　appointed　to　confer　with　the　veteran　alcayde　Mohammed。　　They　met　at　an　appointed　place；　within　view　of　both　camp　and　city；　attended　by　cavaliers　of　either　army。　　Their　meeting　was　highly　courteous；　for　they　had　learnt；　from　rough　encounters　in　the　field；　to　admire　each　other's　prowess。　The　commander　of　Leon　in　an　earnest　speech　pointed　out　the　hopelessness　of　any　further　defence；　and　warned　Mohammed　of　the　ills　which　Malaga　had　incurred　by　its　obstinacy。　　〃I　promise　in　the　name　of　my　sovereigns；〃　said　he；　〃that　if　you　surrender　immediately　the　inhabitants　shall　be　treated　as　subjects　and　protected　in　property；　liberty；　and　religion。　　If　you　refuse；　you；　who　are　now　renowned　as　an　able　and　judicious　commander；　will　be　chargeable　with　the　confiscations；　captivities；　and　deaths　which　may　be　suffered　by　the　people　of　Baza。〃

The　commander　ceased；　and　Mohammed　returned　to　the　city　to　consult　with　his　companions。　　It　was　evident　that　all　further　resistance　was　hopeless；　but　the　Moorish　commanders　felt　that　a　cloud　might　rest　upon　their　names　should　they；　of　their　own　discretion；　surrender　so　important　a　place　without　its　having　sustained　an　assault。　　Prince　Cid　Hiaya　requested　permission；　therefore；　to　send　an　envoy　to　Guadix；　with　a　letter　to　the　old　monarch；　El　Zagal；　treating　of　the　surrender：　the　request　was　granted；　a　safe　conduct　assured　to　the　envoy；　and　Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan　departed　upon　this　momentous　mission。



CHAPTER　LXXXI。

THE　SURRENDER　OF　BAZA。


The　old　warrior…king　was　seated　in　an　inner　chamber　of　the　castle　of　Guadix；　much　cast　down　in　spirit　and　ruminating　on　his　gloomy　fortunes；　when　an　envoy　from　Baza　was　announced；　and　the　veteran　alcayde　Mohammed　stood　before　him。　　El　Zagal　saw　disastrous　tidings　written　in　his　countenance。　　〃How　fares　it　with　Baza　；〃　said　he；　summoning　up　his　spirits　to　the　question。　　〃Let　this　inform　thee；〃　replied　Mohammed；　and　he　delivered　into　his　hands　the　letter　from　the　prince　Cid　Hiaya。

This　letter　spoke　of　the　desperate　situation　of　Baza；　the　impossibility　of　holding　out　longer　without　assistance　from　El　Zagal；　and　the　favorable　terms　held　out　by　the　Castilian　sovereigns。　Had　it　been　written　by　any　other　person；　El　Zagal　might　have　received　it　with　distrust　and　indignation；　but　he　confided　in　Cid　Hiaya　as　in　a　second　self；　and　the　words　of　his　letter　sank　deep　in　his　heart。　　When　he　had　finished　reading　it；　he　sighed　deeply；　and　remained　for　some　time　lost　in　thought；　with　his　head　drooping　upon　his　bosom。　　Recovering　himself　at　length；　he　called　together　the　alfaquis　and　the　old　men　of　Guadix　and　solicited　their　advice。　　It　was　sign　of　sore　trouble　of　mind　and　dejection　of　heart　when　El　Zagal　sought　the　advice　of　others；　but　his　fierce　courage　was　tamed；　for　he　saw　the　end　of　his　power　approaching。　　The　alfaquis　and　the　old　men　did　but　increase　the　distraction　of　his　mind　by　a　variety　of　counsel；　none　of　which　appeared　of　any　avail；　for　unless　Baza　were　succored　it　was　impossible　that　it　should　hold　out；　and　every　attempt　to　succor　it　had　proved　ineffectual。　　El　Zagal　dismissed　his　council　in　despair；　and　summoned　the　veteran　Mohammed　before　him。　　〃God　is　great；〃　exclaimed　he；　〃there　is　but　one　God；　and　Mahomet　is　his　prophet！　　Return　to　my　cousin；　Cid　Hiaya；　tell　him　it　is　out　of　my　power　to　aid　him；