chronicle of the conquest of granada-第90章

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rambla　he　beheld　crowds　of　people　in　violent　agitation；　but　as　he　approached　what　was　his　surprise　to　hear　groans　and　murmurs　and　bursts　of　execration！　　The　tidings　had　spread　through　Granada　that　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal　had　been　driven　to　capitulate；　and　that　all　his　territories　had　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　Christians。　　No　one　had　inquired　into　the　particulars；　but　all　Granada　had　been　thrown　into　a　ferment　of　grief　and　indignation。　　In　the　heat　of　the　moment　old　Muley　was　extolled　to　the　skies　as　a　patriot　prince　who　had　fought　to　the　last　for　the　salvation　of　his　countryas　a　mirror　of　monarchs；　scorning　to　compromise　the　dignity　of　his　crown　by　any　act　of　vassalage。　　Boabdil；　on　the　contrary；　had　looked　on　exultingly　at　the　hopeless　yet　heroic　struggle　of　his　uncle；　he　had　rejoiced　in　the　defeat　of　the　faithful　and　the　triumph　of　unbelievers；　he　had　aided　in　the　dismemberment　and　downfall　of　the　empire。　　When　they　beheld　him　riding　forth　in　gorgeous　state　on　what　they　considered　a　day　of　humiliation　for　all　true　Moslems；　they　could　not　contain　their　rage；　and　amidst　the　clamors　that　met　his　ears　Boabdil　more　than　once　heard　his　name　coupled　with　the　epithets　of　traitor　and　renegado。

Shocked　and　discomfited；　the　youthful　monarch　returned　in　confusion　to　the　Alhambra；　shut　himself　up　within　its　innermost　courts；　and　remained　a　kind　of　voluntary　prisoner　until　the　first　burst　of　popular　feeling　should　subside。　　He　trusted　that　it　would　soon　pass　away　that　the　people　would　be　too　sensible　of　the　sweets　of　peace　to　repine　at　the　price　at　which　it　was　obtained；　at　any　rate；　he　trusted　to　the　strong　friendship　of　the　Christian　sovereigns　to　secure　him　even　against　the　factions　of　his　subjects。

The　first　missives　from　the　politic　Ferdinand　showed　Boabdil　the　value　of　his　friendship。　　The　Christian　monarch　reminded　him　of　a　treaty　which　he　had　made　when　captured　in　the　city　of　Loxa。　　By　this　he　had　engaged　that　in　case　the　Catholic　sovereigns　should　capture　the　cities　of　Guadix；　Baza；　and　Almeria　he　would　surrender　Granada　into　their　hands　within　a　limited　time；　and　accept　in　exchange　certain　Moorish　towns　to　be　held　by　him　as　their　vassal。　Guadix；　Baza；　and　Almeria　had　now　fallen；　Ferdinand　called　upon　him；　therefore；　to　fulfil　his　engagement。

If　the　unfortunate　Boabdil　had　possessed　the　will；　he　had　not　the　power　to　comply　with　this　demand。　　He　was　shut　up　in　the　Alhambra；　while　a　tempest　of　popular　fury　raged　without。　　Granada　was　thronged　by　refugees　from　the　captured　towns；　many　of　them　disbanded　soldiers；　and　others　broken…down　citizens　rendered　fierce　and　desperate　by　ruin。　　All　railed　at　him　as　the　real　cause　of　their　misfortunes。　　How　was　he　to　venture　forth　in　such　a　storm？　　Above　all；　how　was　he　to　talk　to　such　men　of　surrender？　　In　his　reply　to　Ferdinand　he　represented　the　difficulties　of　his　situation；　and　that；　so　far　from　having　control　over　his　subjects；　his　very　life　was　in　danger　from　their　turbulence。　　He　entreated　the　king；　therefore；　to　rest　satisfied　for　the　present　with　his　recent　conquests；　promising　that　should　he　be　able　to　regain　full　empire　over　his　capital　and　its　inhabitants；　it　would　be　but　to　rule　over　them　as　vassal　to　the　Castilian　Crown。

Ferdinand　was　not　to　be　satisfied　with　such　a　reply。　　The　time　was　come　to　bring　his　game　of　policy　to　a　close；　and　to　consummate　his　conquest　by　seating　himself　on　the　throne　of　the　Alhambra。　Professing　to　consider　Boabdil　as　a　faithless　ally　who　had　broken　his　plighted　word；　he　discarded　him　from　his　friendship；　and　addressed　a　second　letter；　not　to　him；　but　to　the　commanders　and　council　of　the　city。　　He　demanded　a　complete　surrender　of　the　place；　with　all　the　arms　in　the　possession　either　of　the　citizens　or　of　others　who　had　recently　taken　refuge　within　its　walls。　　If　the　inhabitants　should　comply　with　this　summons；　he　promised　them　the　indulgent　terms　granted　to　Baza；　Guadix；　and　Almeria；　if　they　should　refuse；　he　threatened　them　with　the　fate　of　Malaga。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios；　cap。　96。


This　message　produced　the　greatest　commotion　in　the　city。　　The　inhabitants　of　the　Alcaiceria；　that　busy　hive　of　traffic；　and　all　others　who　had　tasted　the　sweets　of　gainful　commerce　during　the　late　cessation　of　hostilities；　were　for　securing　their　golden　advantages　by　timely　submission：　others；　who　had　wives　and　children；　looked　on　them　with　tenderness　and　solicitude；　and　dreaded　by　resistance　to　bring　upon　them　the　horrors　of　slavery。

On　the　other　hand；　Granada　was　crowded　with　men　from　all　parts；　ruined　by　the　war；　exasperated　by　their　sufferings；　and　eager　only　for　revengewith　others　who　had　been　reared　amidst　hostilities；　who　had　lived　by　the　sword；　and　whom　a　return　of　peace　would　leave　without　home　or　hope。　　Besides　these；　there　were　others　no　less　fiery　and　warlike　in　disposition；　but　animated　by　a　loftier　spirit。　　These　were　valiant　and　haughty　cavaliers　of　the　old　chivalrous　lineages；　who　had　inherited　a　deadly　hatred　to　the　Christians　from　a　long　line　of　warrior　ancestors；　and　to　whom　the　idea　was　worse　than　death　that　Granadaillustrious　Granada；　for　ages　the　seat　of　Moorish　grandeur　and　delightshould　become　the　abode　of　unbelievers。

Among　these　cavaliers　the　most　eminent　was　Muza　Abul　Gazan。　　He　was　of　royal　lineage；　of　a　proud　and　generous　nature；　and　a　form　combining　manly　strength　and　beauty。　　None　could　excel　him　in　the　management　of　the　horse　and　dextrous　use　of　all　kinds　of　weapons：　his　gracefulness　and　skill　in　the　tourney　were　the　theme　of　praise　among　the　Moorish　dames；　and　his　prowess　in　the　field　had　made　him　the　terror　of　the　enemy。　　He　had　long　repined　at　the　timid　policy　of　Boabdil；　and　endeavored　to　counteract　its　enervating　effects　and　keep　alive　the　martial　spirit　of　Granada。　　For　this　reason　he　had　promoted　jousts　and　tiltings　with　the　reed；　and　all　those　other　public　games　which　bear　the　semblance　of　war。　　He　endeavored　also　to　inculcate　into　his　companions…in…arms　those　high　chivalrous　sentiments　which　lead　to　valiant　and　magnanimous　deeds；　but　which　are　apt　to　decline　with　the　independence　of　a　nation。　　The　generous　efforts　of　Muza　had　been　in　a　great　measure　successful：　he　was　the　idol　of　the　youthful　cavaliers；　they　regarded　him　as　a　mirror　of　chivalry　and　endeavored　to　imitate　his　lofty　and　heroic　virtues。

When　Muza　heard　the　demand　of　Ferdinand　that　they　should　deliver　up　their　arms；　his　eye　flashed　fire。　　〃Does　the　Christian　king　think　that　we　are　old　men；〃　said　he；　〃and　that　staffs　will　suffice　us？　or　that　we　are　women；　and　can　be　contented　with　distaffs？　　Let　him　know　that　a　Moor　is　born　to　the　spear　and　scimetarto　career　the　steed；　bend　the　bow；　and　launch　the　javelin：　deprive　him　of　these；　and　you　deprive　him　of　his　nature。　　If　the　Christian　king　desires　our　arms；　let　him　come　and　win　them；　but　let　him　win　them　dearly。　　For　my　part；　sweeter　were　a　grave　beneath　the　walls　of　Granada；　on　the　spot　I　had　died　to　defend；　than　the　richest　couch　within　her　palaces　earned　by　submission　to　the　unbeliever。〃

The　words　of　Muza　were　received　with　enthusiastic　shouts　by　the　warlike　part　of　the　populace。　　Granada　once　more　awoke；　as　a　warrior　shaking　off　a　disgraceful　lethargy。　　The　commanders　and　council　partook　of　the　public　excitement；　and　despatched　a　reply　to　the　Christian　sovereigns；　declaring　that　they　would　suffer　death　rather　than　surrender　their　city。



CHAPTER　LXXXIV。

HOW　FERDINAND　TURNED　HIS　HOSTLITIES　AGAINST　THE　CITY　　　　　OF　GRANADA。


When　King　Ferdinand　received　the　defiance　of　the　Moors；　he　made　preparations　for　bitter　hostilities。　　The　winter　season　did　not　admit　of　an　immediate　campaign；　he　contented　himself；　therefore；　with　throwing　strong　garrisons　into　all　his　towns　and　fortresses　in　the　neighborhood　of　Granada；　and　gave　the　command　of　all　the　frontier　of　Jaen　to　Inigo　Lopez　de　Mendoza；　count　of　Tendilla；　who　had　shown　such　consummate　vigilance　and　address　in　maintaining　the　dangerous　post　of　Alhama。　　This　renowned　veteran　established　his　head…quarters　in　the　mountain…city　of　Alcala　la　Real；　within　eight　leagues　of　the　city　of　Granada　and　commanding　the　most　important　passes　of　that　rugged　frontier。

In　the　mean　time；　Granada　resounded　with　the　stir　of　war。　　The　chivalry　of　the　nation　had　aga