chronicle of the conquest of granada-第91章

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er。

In　the　mean　time；　Granada　resounded　with　the　stir　of　war。　　The　chivalry　of　the　nation　had　again　control　of　its　councils；　and　the　populace；　having　once　more　resumed　their　weapons；　were　anxious　to　wipe　out　the　disgrace　of　their　late　passive　submission　by　signal　and　daring　exploits。

Muza　Abul　Gazan　was　the　soul　of　action。　　He　commanded　the　cavalry；　which　he　had　disciplined　with　uncommon　skill；　he　was　surrounded　by　the　noblest　youths　of　Granada；　who　had　caught　his　own　generous　and　martial　fire　and　panted　for　the　field；　while　the　common　soldiers；　devoted　to　his　person；　were　ready　to　follow　him　in　the　most　desperate　enterprises。　　He　did　not　allow　their　courage　to　cool　for　want　of　action。　　The　gates　of　Granada　once　more　poured　forth　legions　of　light　scouring　cavalry；　which　skirred　the　country　up　to　the　very　gates　of　the　Christian　fortresses；　sweeping　off　flocks　and　herds。　The　name　of　Muza　became　formidable　throughout　the　frontier；　he　had　many　encounters　with　the　enemy　in　the　rough　passes　of　the　mountains；　in　which　the　superior　lightness　and　dexterity　of　his　cavalry　gave　him　the　advantage。　　The　sight　of　his　glistening　legion　returning　across　the　Vega　with　long　cavalgadas　of　booty　was　hailed　by　the　Moors　as　a　revival　of　their　ancient　triumphs；　but　when　they　beheld　Christian　banners　borne　into　their　gates　as　trophies；　the　exultation　of　the　light…minded　populace　was　beyond　all　bounds。

The　winter　passed　away；　the　spring　advanced；　yet　Ferdinand　delayed　to　take　the　field。　　He　knew　the　city　of　Granada　to　be　too　strong　and　populous　to　be　taken　by　assault；　and　too　full　of　provisions　to　be　speedily　reduced　by　siege。　　〃We　must　have　patience　and　perseverance；〃　said　the　politic　monarch；　〃by　ravaging　the　country　this　year　we　shall　produce　a　scarcity　the　next；　and　then　the　city　may　be　invested　with　effect。〃

An　interval　of　peace；　aided　by　the　quick　vegetation　of　a　prolific　soil　and　happy　climate；　had　restored　the　Vega　to　all　its　luxuriance　and　beauty；　the　green　pastures　on　the　borders　of　the　Xenil　were　covered　with　flocks　and　herds；　the　blooming　orchards　gave　promise　of　abundant　fruit；　and　the　open　plain　was　waving　with　ripening　corn。　The　time　was　at　hand　to　put　in　the　sickle　and　reap　the　golden　harvest；　when　suddenly　a　torrent　of　war　came　sweeping　down　from　the　mountains；　and　Ferdinand；　with　an　army　of　five　thousand　horse　and　twenty　thousand　foot；　appeared　before　the　walls　of　Granada。　　He　had　left　the　queen　and　princess　at　the　fortress　of　Moclin；　and　came　attended　by　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia；　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　the　marques　de　Villena；　the　counts　of　Urena　and　Cabra；　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　and　other　renowned　cavaliers。　　On　this　occasion　he　for　the　first　time　led　his　son；　Prince　Juan；　into　the　field；　and　bestowed　upon　him　the　dignity　of　knighthood。　　As　if　to　stimulate　him　to　grand　achievements；　the　ceremony　took　place　on　the　banks　of　the　grand　canal　almost　beneath　the　embattled　walls　of　that　warlike　city；　the　object　of　such　daring　enterprises；　and　in　the　midst　of　that　famous　Vega；　the　field　of　so　many　chivalrous　exploits。　　Above　them　shone　resplendent　the　red　towers　of　the　Alhambra；　rising　from　amidst　delicious　groves；　with　the　standard　of　Mahomet　waving　defiance　to　the　Christian　arms。

The　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　and　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz；　were　sponsors；　and　all　the　chivalry　of　the　camp　was　assembled　on　the　occasion。　　The　prince；　after　he　was　knighted；　bestowed　the　same　honor　on　several　youthful　cavaliers　of　high　rank；　just　entering；　like　himself；　on　the　career　of　arms。

Ferdinand　did　not　loiter　in　carrying　his　desolating　plans　into　execution。　　He　detached　parties　in　every　direction　to　lay　waste　the　country：　villages　were　sacked；　burnt；　and　destroyed；　and　the　lovely　Vega　was　once　more　laid　waste　with　fire　and　sword。　　The　ravage　was　carried　so　close　to　Granada　that　the　city　was　wrapped　in　the　smoke　of　its　gardens　and　hamlets。　　The　dismal　cloud　rolled　up　the　hill　and　hung　about　the　towers　of　the　Alhambra；　where　the　unfortunate　Boabdil　still　remained　shut　up　from　the　indignation　of　his　subjects。　The　hapless　monarch　smote　his　breast　as　he　looked　down　from　his　mountain…palace　on　the　desolation　effected　by　his　late　ally。　He　dared　not　even　show　himself　in　arms　among　the　populace；　for　they　cursed　him　as　the　cause　of　the　miseries　once　more　brought　to　their　doors。

The　Moors；　however；　did　not　suffer　the　Christians　to　carry　on　their　ravages　unmolested；　as　in　former　years。　　Muza　incited　them　to　incessant　sallies。　　He　divided　his　cavalry　into　small　squadrons；　each　led　by　a　daring　commander。　　They　were　taught　to　hover　round　the　Christian　camp；　to　harass　it　from　various　and　opposite　quarters；　cutting　off　convoys　and　straggling　detachments；　to　waylay　the　army　in　its　ravaging　expeditions；　lurking　among　rocks　and　passes　of　the　mountains　or　in　hollows　and　thickets　of　the　plain；　and　practising　a　thousand　stratagems　and　surprises。

The　Christian　army　had　one　day　spread　itself　out　rather　unguardedly　in　its　foraging　about　the　Vega。　　As　the　troops　commanded　by　the　marques　of　Villena　approached　the　skirts　of　the　mountains；　they　beheld　a　number　of　Moorish　peasants　hastily　driving　a　herd　of　cattle　into　a　narrow　glen。　　The　soldiers；　eager　for　booty；　pressed　in　pursuit　of　them。　　Scarcely　had　they　entered　the　glen　when　shouts　arose　from　every　side；　and　they　were　furiously　attacked　by　an　ambuscade　of　horse　and　foot。　　Some　of　the　Christians　took　to　flight；　others　stood　their　ground　and　fought　valiantly。　　The　Moors　had　the　vantage…ground；　some　showered　darts　and　arrows　from　the　cliffs　of　the　rocks；　others　fought　hand　to　hand　on　the　plain；　while　their　cavalry　carried　havoc　and　confusion　into　the　midst　of　the　Christian　forces。

The　marques　de　Villena；　with　his　brother；　Don　Alonso　de　Pacheco；　at　the　first　onset　of　the　Moors　spurred　into　the　hottest　of　the　fight。　They　had　scarce　entered　when　Don　Alonso　was　struck　lifeless　from　his　horse　before　the　eyes　of　his　brother。　　Estevan　Luzon；　a　gallant　captain；　fell　fighting　bravely　by　the　side　of　the　marques；　who　remained；　with　his　chamberlain　Soler　and　a　handful　of　knights；　surrounded　by　the　enemy。　　Several　cavaliers　from　other　parts　of　the　army　hastened　to　their　assistance；　when　King　Ferdinand；　seeing　that　the　Moors　had　the　vantage…ground　and　that　the　Christians　were　suffering　severely；　gave　signal　for　retreat。　　The　marques　obeyed　slowly　and　reluctantly；　for　his　heart　was　full　of　grief　and　rage　at　the　death　of　his　brother。　　As　he　was　retiring　he　beheld　his　faithful　chamberlain　Soler　defending　himself　valiantly　against　six　Moors。　The　marques　turned　and　rushed　to　his　rescue；　he　killed　two　of　the　enemy　with　his　own　hand　and　put　the　rest　to　flight。　　One　of　the　Moors；　however；　in　retreating；　rose　in　his　stirrups；　and；　hurling　his　lance　at　the　marques；　wounded　him　in　the　right　arm　and　crippled　him　for　life。*

*In　consequence　of　this　wound　the　marques　was　ever　after　obliged　　to　write　his　signature　with　his　left　hand；　though　capable　of　managing　　his　lance　with　his　right。　　The　queen　one　day　demanded　of　him　why　　he　had　adventured　his　life　for　that　of　a　domestic？　　〃Does　not　Your　　Majesty　think；〃　replied　he；　〃that　I　ought　to　risk　one　life　for　him　who　　would　have　adventured　three　for　me　had　he　possessed　them？〃　　The　　queen　was　charmed　with　the　magnanimity　of　the　reply；　and　often　　quoted　the　marques　as　setting　an　heroic　example　to　the　chivalry　of　　the　age。Mariana；　lib。　25；　c。　15。


Such　was　one　of　the　many　ambuscadoes　concerted　by　Muza；　nor　did　he　hesitate　at　times　to　present　a　bold　front　to　the　Christian　forces　and　defy　them　in　the　open　field。　　Ferdinand　soon　perceived；　however；　that　the　Moors　seldom　provoked　a　battle　without　having　the　advantage　of　the　ground；　and　that；　though　the　Christians　generally　appeared　to　have　the　victory；　they　suffered　the　greatest　loss；　for　retreating　was　a　part　of　the　Moorish　system　by　which　they　would　draw　their　pursuers　into　confusion；　and　then　turn　upon　them　with　a　more　violent　and　fatal　attack。　　He　commanded　his　captains；　therefore；　to　decline　all　challenges　to　skirmish；　and　pursue　a　secure　system　of　destruction；　ravaging　the　country　and　doing　all　possible　injury　to　the　enemy　with　slight　risk　to　themselves。



CHAPTER　LXXXV。

THE　FATE　OF　THE　CASTLE　OF　ROMA。


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