chronicle of the conquest of granada-第98章

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On　the　first　appearance　of　the　Christian　army　the　principal　gates　of　the　city　had　been　closed　and　secured　with　bars　and　bolts　and　heavy　chains：　Muza　now　ordered　them　to　be　thrown　open。　　〃To　me　and　my　cavaliers；〃　said　he；　〃is　entrusted　the　defence　of　the　gates；　our　bodies　shall　be　their　barriers。〃　　He　stationed　at　each　gate　a　strong　guard　chosen　from　his　bravest　men。　　His　horsemen　were　always　completely　armed　and　ready　to　mount　at　a　moment's　warning：　their　steeds　stood　saddled　and　caparisoned　in　the　stables；　with　lance　and　buckler　beside　them。　　On　the　least　approach　of　the　enemy　a　squadron　of　horse　gathered　within　the　gate；　ready　to　launch　forth　like　the　bolt　from　the　thunder…cloud。　　Muza　made　no　empty　bravado　nor　haughty　threat；　he　was　more　terrible　in　deeds　than　in　words；　and　executed　daring　exploits　beyond　even　the　vaunt　of　the　vainglorious。　Such　was　the　present　champion　of　the　Moors。　　Had　they　possessed　many　such　warriors；　or　had　Muza　risen　to　power　at　an　earlier　period　of　the　war；　the　fate　of　Granada　might　have　been　deferred；　and　the　Moor　for　a　long　time　have　maintained　his　throne　within　the　walls　of　the　Alhambra。



CHAPTER　XCI。

HOW　KING　FERDINAND　CONDUCTED　THE　SIEGE　　CAUTIOUSLY；　　　　　AND　HOW　QUEEN　ISABELLA　ARRIVED　AT　THE　CAMP。


Though　Granada　was　shorn　of　its　glories　and　nearly　cut　off　from　all　external　aid；　still　its　mighty　castles　and　massive　bulwarks　seemed　to　set　all　attack　at　defiance。　　Being　the　last　retreat　of　Moorish　power；　it　had　assembled　within　its　walls　the　remnants　of　the　armies　which　had　contended；　step　by　step；　with　the　invaders　in　their　gradual　conquest　of　the　land。　　All　that　remained　of　high…born　and　high…bred　chivalry　was　here；　all　that　was　loyal　and　patriotic　was　roused　to　activity　by　the　common　danger；　and　Granada；　so　long　lulled　into　inaction　by　vain　hopes　of　security；　now　assumed　a　formidable　aspect　in　the　hour　of　its　despair。

Ferdinand　saw　that　any　attempt　to　subdue　the　city　by　main　force　would　be　perilous　and　bloody。　　Cautious　in　his　policy；　and　fond　of　conquests　gained　by　art　rather　than　valor；　he　resorted　to　the　plan　so　successful　with　Baza；　and　determined　to　reduce　the　place　by　famine。　　For　this　purpose　his　armies　penetrated　into　the　very　heart　of　the　Alpuxarras；　and　ravaged　the　valleys　and　sacked　and　burnt　the　towns　upon　which　the　city　depended　for　its　supplies。　　Scouting　parties　also　ranged　the　mountains　behind　Granada　and　captured　every　casual　convoy　of　provisions。　　The　Moors　became　more　daring　as　their　situation　became　more　hopeless。　　Never　had　Ferdinand　experienced　such　vigorous　sallies　and　assaults。　　Muza　at　the　head　of　his　cavalry　harassed　the　borders　of　the　camp；　and　even　penetrated　into　the　interior；　making　sudden　spoil　and　ravage；　and　leaving　his　course　to　be　traced　by　the　slain　and　wounded。　　To　protect　his　camp　from　these　assaults；　Ferdinand　fortified　it　with　deep　trenches　and　strong　bulwarks。　　It　was　of　a　quadrangular　form；　divided　into　streets　like　a　city；　the　troops　being　quartered　in　tents　and　in　booths　constructed　of　bushes　and　branches　of　trees。　　When　it　was　completed　Queen　Isabella　came　in　state；　with　all　her　court　and　the　prince　and　princesses；　to　be　present　at　the　siege。　　This　was　intended；　as　on　former　occasions；　to　reduce　the　besieged　to　despair　by　showing　the　determination　of　the　sovereigns　to　reside　in　the　camp　until　the　city　should　surrender。　　Immediately　after　her　arrival　the　queen　rode　forth　to　survey　the　camp　and　its　environs：　wherever　she　went　she　was　attended　by　a　splendid　retinue；　and　all　the　commanders　vied　with　each　other　in　the　pomp　and　ceremony　with　which　they　received　her。　Nothing　was　heard　from　morning　until　night　but　shouts　and　acclamations　and　bursts　of　martial　music；　so　that　it　appeared　to　the　Moors　as　if　a　continual　festival　and　triumph　reigned　in　the　Christian　camp。

The　arrival　of　the　queen；　however　and　the　menaced　obstinacy　of　the　siege；　had　no　effect　in　damping　the　fire　of　the　Moorish　chivalry。　Muza　inspired　the　youthful　warriors　with　the　most　devoted　heroism。　〃We　have　nothing　left　to　fight　for；〃　said　he；　〃but　the　ground　we　stand　on；　when　this　is　lost　we　cease　to　have　a　country　and　a　name。〃

Finding　the　Christian　king　forbore　to　make　an　attack；　Muza　incited　his　cavaliers　to　challenge　the　youthful　chivalry　of　the　Christian　army　to　single　combat　or　partial　skirmishes。　　Scarce　a　day　passed　without　gallant　conflicts　of　the　kind　in　sight　of　the　city　and　the　camp。　　The　combatants　rivalled　each　other　in　the　splendor　of　their　armor　and　array；　as　well　as　in　the　prowess　of　their　deeds。　　Their　contests　were　more　like　the　stately　ceremonials　of　tilts　and　tournaments　than　the　rude　conflicts　of　the　field。　　Ferdinand　soon　perceived　that　they　animated　the　fiery　Moors　with　fresh　zeal　and　courage；　while　they　cost　the　lives　of　many　of　his　bravest　cavaliers：　he　again；　therefore；　forbade　the　acceptance　of　any　individual　challenges；　and　ordered　that　all　partial　encounters　should　be　avoided。　　The　cool　and　stern　policy　of　the　Catholic　sovereign　bore　hard　upon　the　generous　spirits　of　either　army；　but　roused　the　indignation　of　the　Moors　when　they　found　that　they　were　to　be　subdued　in　this　inglorious　manner：　〃Of　what　avail；〃　said　they；　〃are　chivalry　and　heroic　valor？　　The　crafty　monarch　of　the　Christians　has　no　magnanimity　in　warfare；　he　seeks　to　subdue　us　through　the　weakness　of　our　bodies；　but　shuns　to　encounter　the　courage　of　our　souls。〃



CHAPTER　XCII。

OF　THE　INSOLENT　DEFIANCE　OF　TARFE　THE　MOOR；　AND　THE　　　　　DARING　EXPLOIT　OF　HERNAN　PEREZ　DEL　PULGAR。


When　the　Moorish　knights　beheld　that　all　courteous　challenges　were　unavailing；　they　sought　various　means　to　provoke　the　Christian　warriors　to　the　field。　　Sometimes　a　body　of　them；　fleetly　mounted；　would　gallop　up　to　the　skirts　of　the　camp　and　try　who　should　hurl　his　lance　farthest　within　the　barriers；　having　his　name　inscribed　upon　it　or　a　label　affixed　containing　some　taunting　defiance。　　These　bravadoes　caused　great　irritation；　still；　the　Spanish　warriors　were　restrained　by　the　prohibition　of　the　king。

Among　the　Moorish　cavaliers　was　one　named　Tarfe；　renowned　for　strength　and　daring　spirit；　but　whose　courage　partook　of　fierce　audacity　rather　than　chivalric　heroism。　　In　one　of　these　sallies；　when　skirting　the　Christian　camp；　this　arrogant　Moor　outstripped　his　companions；　overleaped　the　barriers；　and；　galloping　close　to　the　royal　quarters；　launched　his　lance　so　far　within　that　it　remained　quivering　in　the　earth　close　by　the　pavilions　of　the　sovereigns。　　The　royal　guards　rushed　forth　in　pursuit；　but　the　Moorish　horsemen　were　already　beyond　the　camp　and　scouring　in　a　cloud　of　dust　for　the　city。　　Upon　wresting　the　lance　from　the　earth　a　label　was　found　upon　it　importing　that　it　was　intended　for　the　queen。

Nothing　could　equal　the　indignation　of　the　Christian　warriors　at　the　insolence　of　the　bravado　and　the　discourteous　insult　offered　to　the　queen。　　Hernan　Perez　del　Pulgar；　surnamed　〃He　of　the　exploits；〃　was　present；　and　resolved　not　to　be　outbraved　by　this　daring　infidel。　〃Who　will　stand　by　me；〃　said　he；　〃in　an　enterprise　of　desperate　peril？〃　　The　Christian　cavaliers　well　knew　the　harebrained　valor　of　Hernan；　yet　not　one　hesitated　to　step　forward。　　He　chose　fifteen　companions；　all　of　powerful　arm　and　dauntless　heart。

His　project　was　to　penetrate　Granada　in　the　dead　of　the　night　by　a　secret　pass　made　known　to　him　by　a　Moorish　renegade　of　the　city；　whom　he　had　christened　Pedro　Pulgar；　and　who　was　to　act　as　guide。　　They　were　to　set　fire　to　the　Alcaiceria　and　other　principal　edifices；　and　then　effect　their　retreat　as　best　they　might。　　At　the　hour　appointed　the　adventurous　troops　set　forth　provided　with　combustibles。　　The　renegade　led　them　silently　to　a　drain　or　channel　of　the　river　Darro；　up　which　they　proceeded　cautiously；　single　file；　until　they　halted　under　a　bridge　near　the　royal　gate。　　Here　dismounting；　Pulgar　stationed　six　of　his　companions　to　remain　silent　and　motionless　and　keep　guard；　while；　followed　by　the　rest　and　still　guided　by　the　renegade；　he　continued　up　the　drain　or　channel　of　the　Darro；　which　passes　under　a　part　of　the　city；　and　was　thus　enabled　to　make　his　way　undiscovered　into　the　streets。　　All　was　dark　and　silent。　　At　the　command　of　Pulgar　the　renegade　led　him　to　the　principal　mosque