chronicle of the conquest of granada-第89章

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the　soldiers　and　many　horses　and　beasts　perished　with　the　cold。　　One　of　the　divisions　under　the　marques　of　Cadiz　found　it　impossible　to　traverse　in　one　day　the　frozen　summits　of　Filabres；　and　had　to　pass　the　night　in　those　inclement　regions。　　The　marques　caused　two　immense　fires　to　be　kindled　in　the　vicinity　of　his　encampment　to　guide　and　enlighten　those　lost　and　wandering　among　the　defiles；　and　to　warm　those　who　were　benumbed　and　almost　frozen。

The　king　halted　at　Tavernas；　to　collect　his　scattered　troops　and　give　them　time　to　breathe　after　the　hardships　of　the　mountains。　　The　queen　was　travelling　a　day's　march　in　the　rear。

On　the　21st　of　December　the　king　arrived　and　encamped　in　the　vicinity　of　Almeria。　　Understanding　that　El　Zagal　was　sallying　forth　to　pay　him　homage　according　to　appointment；　he　mounted　on　horseback　and　rode　forth　to　receive　him；　attended　by　Don　Alonso　de　Cardenas；　master　of　Santiago；　on　his　right　hand；　and　the　marques　of　Cadiz　on　his　left；　and　despatched　in　the　advance　Don　Gutierrez　de　Cardenas；　commander　of　Leon；　and　other　cavaliers　to　meet　and　form　an　honorable　escort　to　the　Moorish　monarch。　　With　this　escort　went　that　curious　eye…witness；　Peter　Martyr；　from　whom　we　have　many　of　these　particulars。

El　Zagal　was　accompanied　by　twelve　cavaliers　on　horseback；　among　whom　was　his　cousin；　the　prince　Cid　Hiaya　（who　had　no　doubt　joined　him　from　the　Spanish　camp）；　and　the　brave　Reduan　Vanegas。　　Peter　Martyr　declares　that　the　appearance　of　El　Zagal　touched　him　with　compassion；　for；　though　a　〃lawless　barbarian；　he　was　a　king　and　had　given　signal　proofs　of　heroism。〃　　The　historian　Palencia　gives　us　a　particular　description　of　his　appearance。　　He　was；　says　he；　of　elevated　stature　and　well　proportioned；　neither　robust　nor　meagre；　the　natural　fairness　of　his　countenance　was　increased　by　an　extreme　paleness　which　gave　it　a　melancholy　expression。　　His　aspect　was　grave；　his　movements　were　quiet；　noble；　and　dignified。　　He　was　modestly　attired　in　a　garb　of　mourninga　sayo；　or　loose　surcoat；　of　dark　cloth；　a　simple　albornoz　or　Moorish　mantle；　and　a　turban　of　dazzling　whiteness。

On　being　met　by　the　commander；　Gutierrez　de　Cardenas；　El　Zagal　saluted　him　courteously；　as　well　as　the　cavaliers　who　accompanied　him；　and　rode　on；　conversing　with　him　through　the　medium　of　interpreters。　　Beholding　King　Ferdinand　and　his　splendid　train　at　a　distance；　he　alighted　and　advanced　toward　him　on　foot。　　The　punctilious　Ferdinand；　supposing　this　voluntary　act　of　humiliation　had　been　imposed　by　Don　Gutierrez；　told　that　cavalier；　with　some　asperity；　that　it　was　an　act　of　great　discourtesy　to　cause　a　vanquished　king　to　alight　before　another　king　who　was　victorious。　At　the　same　time　he　made　him　signs　to　remount　his　horse　and　place　himself　by　his　side。　　El　Zagal；　persisting　in　his　act　of　homage；　offered　to　kiss　the　king's　hand；　but；　being　prevented　by　that　monarch；　he　kissed　his　own　hand；　as　the　Moorish　cavaliers　were　accustomed　to　do　in　presence　of　their　sovereigns；　and　accompanied　the　gesture　by　a　few　words　expressive　of　obedience　and　fealty。　Ferdinand　replied　in　a　gracious　and　amiable　manner；　and；　causing　him　to　remount　and　place　himself　on　his　left　hand；　they　proceeded；　followed　by　the　whole　train；　to　the　royal　pavilion　pitched　in　the　most　conspicuous　part　of　the　camp。

There　a　banquet　was　served　up　to　the　two　kings　according　to　the　rigorous　style　and　etiquette　of　the　Spanish　court。　　They　were　seated　in　two　chairs　of　state　under　the　same　canopy；　El　Zagal　on　the　left　hand　of　Ferdinand。　　The　cavaliers　and　courtiers　admitted　to　the　royal　pavilion　remained　standing。　　The　count　de　Tendilla　served　the　viands　to　King　Ferdinand　in　golden　dishes；　and　the　count　Cifuentes　gave　him　to　drink　out　of　cups　of　the　same　precious　metal；　Don　Alvaro　Bazan　and　Garcilasso　de　la　Vega　performed　the　same　offices；　in　similar　style　and　with　vessels　of　equal　richness；　to　the　Moorish　monarch。

The　banquet　ended；　El　Zagal　took　courteous　leave　of　Ferdinand；　and　sallied　from　the　pavilion　attended　by　the　cavaliers　who　had　been　present。　　Each　of　these　now　made　himself　known　to　the　old　monarch　by　his　name；　title；　or　dignity；　and　each　received　an　affable　gesture　in　reply。　　They　would　all　have　escorted　the　old　king　back　to　the　gates　of　Almeria；　but　he　insisted　on　their　remaining　in　the　camp；　and　with　difficulty　could　be　persuaded　upon　to　accept　the　honorable　attendance　of　the　marques　of　Villena；　the　commander；　Don　Gutierrez　de　Cardenas；　the　count　de　Cifuentes；　and　Don　Luis　Puerto　Carrero。

On　the　following　morning　（22d　December）　the　troops　were　all　drawn　out　in　splendid　array　in　front　of　the　camp；　awaiting　the　signal　of　the　formal　surrender　of　the　city。　　This　was　given　at　mid…day；　when　the　gates　were　thrown　open　and　a　corps　marched　in；　led　by　Don　Gutierrez　de　Cardenas；　who　had　been　appointed　governor。　　In　a　little　while　the　gleam　of　Christian　warriors　was　seen　on　the　walls　and　bulwarks；　the　blessed　cross　was　planted　in　place　of　the　standard　of　Mahomet；　and　the　banner　of　the　sovereigns　floated　triumphantly　above　the　Alcazar。　　At　the　same　time　a　numerous　deputation　of　alfaquis　and　the　noblest　and　wealthiest　inhabitants　of　the　place　sallied　forth　to　pay　homage　to　King　Ferdinand。

On　the　23d　of　December　the　king　himself　entered　the　city　with　grand　military　and　religious　pomp；　and　repaired　to　the　mosque　of　the　castle；　which　had　previously　been　purified　and　sanctified　and　converted　into　a　Christian　temple：　here　grand　mass　was　performed　in　solemn　celebration　of　this　great　triumph　of　the　faith。

These　ceremonies　were　scarcely　completed　when　joyful　notice　was　given　of　the　approach　of　the　queen　Isabella　with　the　rear…guard　of　the　army。　　She　came　accompanied　by　the　princess　Isabella；　and　attended　by　her　ghostly　counsellor　the　cardinal　Mendoza　and　her　confessor　Talavera。　　The　king　sallied　forth　to　meet　her；　accompanied　by　El　Zagal；　and　it　is　said　the　reception　of　the　latter　by　the　queen　was　characterized　by　the　deference　and　considerate　delicacy　which　belonged　to　her　magnanimous　nature。

The　surrender　of　Almeria　was　followed　by　that　of　Almunecar；　Salobrena；　and　other　fortified　places　of　the　coast　and　the　interior；　and　detachments　of　Christian　troops　took　quiet　possession　of　the　Alpuxarras　mountains　and　their　secluded　and　fertile　valleys。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios；　cap。　93；　94；　Pulgar；　Cron。；　part　3；　cap。　124；　　Garibay；　Comp。　Hist。；　lib。　18；　cap。　37；　etc。　etc。



CHAPTER　LXXXIII。

EVENTS　AT　GRANADA　SUBSEQUENT　TO　THE　SUBMISSION　OF　　　　　EL　ZAGAL。


Who　can　tell　when　to　rejoice　in　this　fluctuating　world？　　Every　wave　of　prosperity　has　its　reacting　surge；　and　we　are　often　overwhelmed　by　the　very　billow　on　which　we　thought　to　be　wafted　into　the　haven　of　our　hopes。　　When　Yusef　Aben　Comixa；　the　vizier　of　Boabdil；　surnamed　El　Chico；　entered　the　royal　saloon　of　the　Alhambra　and　announced　the　capitulation　of　El　Zagal；　the　heart　of　the　youthful　monarch　leaped　for　joy。　　His　great　wish　was　accomplished；　his　uncle　was　defeated　and　dethroned；　and　he　reigned　without　a　rival；　sole　monarch　of　Granada。　　At　length　he　was　about　to　enjoy　the　fruits　of　his　humiliation　and　vassalage。　　He　beheld　his　throne　fortified　by　the　friendship　and　alliance　of　the　Castilian　monarchs；　there　could　be　no　question；　therefore；　of　its　stability。　　〃Allah　Akbar！　God　is　great！〃　exclaimed　he。　　〃Rejoice　with　me；　O　Yusef；　the　stars　have　ceased　their　persecution。　　Henceforth　let　no　man　call　me　El　Zogoybi。〃

In　the　first　moment　of　his　exultation　Boabdil　would　have　ordered　public　rejoicings；　but　the　shrewd　Yusef　shook　his　head。　　〃The　tempest　has　ceased　from　one　point　of　the　heavens；〃　said　he；　〃but　it　may　begin　to　rage　from　another。　　A　troubled　sea　is　beneath　us；　and　we　are　surrounded　by　rocks　and　quicksands：　let　my　lord　the　king　defer　rejoicings　until　all　has　settled　into　a　calm。〃　　El　Chico；　however；　could　not　remain　tranquil　in　this　day　of　exultation：　he　ordered　his　steed　to　be　sumptuously　caparisoned；　and；　issuing　out　of　the　gate　of　the　Alhambra；　descended；　with　glittering　retinue；　along　the　avenue　of　trees　and　fountains；　into　the　city　to　receive　the　acclamations　of　the　populace。　　As　he　entered　the　great　square　of　the　Vivarrambla　he　beheld　crowds　of　people　in　violent　agitation；　but　as　he　approached　what　was　his　surprise　t