part03-第4章
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Granada。 Alhamar ventured to oppose him in open field; but met with
a signal defeat; and retired discomfited to his capital。 Jaen still
held out; and kept the enemy at bay during an entire winter; but
Ferdinand swore not to raise his camp until he had gained possession
of the place。 Alhamar found it impossible to throw reinforcements into
the besieged city; he saw that its fall must be followed by the
investment of his capital; and was conscious of the insufficiency of
his means to cope with the potent sovereign of Castile。 Taking a
sudden resolution; therefore; he repaired privately to the Christian
camp; made his unexpected appearance in the presence of King
Ferdinand; and frankly announced himself as the king of Granada。 〃I
come;〃 said he; 〃confiding in your good faith; to put myself under
your protection。 Take all I possess and receive me as your vassal〃; so
saying; he knelt and kissed the king's hand in token of allegiance。
Ferdinand was won by this instance of confiding faith; and
determined not to be outdone in generosity。 He raised his late enemy
from the earth; embraced him as a friend; and; refusing the wealth
he offered; left him sovereign of his dominions; under the feudal
tenure of a yearly tribute; attendance at the Cortes as one of the
nobles of the empire; and service in war with a certain number of
horsemen。 He moreover conferred on him the honor of knighthood; and
armed him with his own hands。
It was not long after this that Alhamar was called upon; for his
military services; to aid King Ferdinand in his famous siege of
Seville。 The Moorish king sallied forth with five hundred chosen
horsemen of Granada; than whom none in the world knew better how to
manage the steed or wield the lance。 It was a humiliating service;
however; for they had to draw the sword against their brethren of
the faith。
Alhamar gained a melancholy distinction by his prowess in this
renowned conquest; but more true honor by the humanity which he
prevailed upon Ferdinand to introduce into the usages of war。 When
in 1248 the famous city of Seville surrendered to the Castilian
monarch; Alhamar returned sad and full of care to his dominions。 He
saw the gathering ills that menaced the Moslem cause; and uttered an
ejaculation often used by him in moments of anxiety and trouble…
〃How straitened and wretched would be our life; if our hope were not
so spacious and extensive。〃 〃Que angosta y miserable seria nuestra
vida; sino fuera tan dilatada y espaciosa nuestra esperanza!〃
As he approached Granada on his return he beheld arches of triumph
which had been erected in honor of his martial exploits。 The people
thronged forth to see him with impatient joy; for his benignant rule
had won all hearts。 Wherever he passed he was hailed with acclamations
as 〃El Ghalib!〃 (the conqueror)。 Alhamar gave a melancholy shake of
the head on hearing the appellation。 〃Wa le ghalib il Allah!〃
(〃There is no conqueror but God!〃); exclaimed he。 From that time
forward this exclamation became his motto; and the motto of his
descendants; and appears to this day emblazoned on his escutcheons
in the halls of the Alhambra。
Alhamar had purchased peace by submission to the Christian yoke; but
he was conscious that; with elements so discordant and motives for
hostility so deep and ancient; it could not be permanent。 Acting;
therefore; upon the old maxim; 〃arm thyself in peace and clothe
thyself in summer;〃 he improved the present interval of tranquillity
by fortifying his dominions; replenishing his arsenals; and
promoting those useful arts which give wealth and real power。 He
confided the command of his various cities to such as had
distinguished themselves by valor and prudence; and who seemed most
acceptable to the people。 He organized a vigilant police; and
established rigid rules for the administration of justice。 The poor
and the distressed always found ready admission to his presence; and
he attended personally to their assistance and redress。 He erected
hospitals for the blind; the aged; and infirm; and all those incapable
of labor; and visited them frequently; not on set days with pomp and
form; so as to give time for every thing to be put in order; and every
abuse concealed; but suddenly; and unexpectedly; informing himself; by
actual observation and close inquiry; of the treatment of the sick;
and the conduct of those appointed to administer to their relief。 He
founded schools and colleges; which he visited in the same manner;
inspecting personally the instruction of the youth。 He established
butcheries and public ovens; that the people might be furnished with
wholesome provisions at just and regular prices。 He introduced
abundant streams of water into the city; erecting baths and fountains;
and constructing aqueducts and canals to irrigate and fertilize the
Vega。 By these means prosperity and abundance prevailed in this
beautiful city; its gates were thronged with commerce; and its
warehouses filled with luxuries and merchandise of every clime and
country。
He moreover gave premiums and privileges to the best artisans;
improved the breed of horses and other domestic animals; encouraged
husbandry; and increased the natural fertility of the soil twofold
by his protection; making the lovely valleys of his kingdom to bloom
like gardens。 He fostered also the growth and fabrication of silk;
until the looms of Granada surpassed even those of Syria in the
fineness and beauty of their productions。 He moreover caused the mines
of gold and silver and other metals; found in the mountainous
regions of his dominions; to be diligently worked; and was the first
king of Granada who struck money of gold and silver with his name;
taking great care that the coins should be skilfully executed。
It was towards the middle of the thirteenth century; and just
after his return from the siege of Seville; that he commenced the
splendid palace of the Alhambra; superintending the building of it
in person; mingling frequently among the artists and workmen; and
directing their labors。
Though thus magnificent in his works and great in his enterprises;
he was simple in his person and moderate in his enjoyments。 His
dress was not merely void of splendor; but so plain as not to
distinguish him from his subjects。 His harem boasted but few beauties;
and these he visited but seldom; though they were entertained with
great magnificence。 His wives were daughters of the principal
nobles; and were treated by him as friends and rational companions。
What is more; he managed to make them live in friendship with one
another。 He passed much of his time in his gardens; especially in
those of the Alhambra; which he had stored with the rarest plants
and the most beautiful and aromatic flowers。 Here he delighted himself
in reading histories; or in causing them to be read and related to
him; and sometimes; in intervals of leisure; employed himself in the
instruction of his three sons; for whom he had provided the most
learned and virtuous masters。
As he had frankly and voluntarily offered himself a tributary vassal
to Ferdinand; so he always remained loyal to his word; giving him
repeated proofs of fidelity and attachment。 When that renowned monarch
died in Seville in 1254; Alhamar sent ambassadors to condole with
his successor; Alonzo X; and with them a gallant train of a hundred
Moorish cavaliers of distinguished rank; who were to attend round
the royal bier during the funeral ceremonies; each bearing a lighted
taper。 This grand testimonial of respect was repeated by the Moslem
monarch during the remainder of his life on each anniversary of the
death of King Ferdinand el Santo; when the hundred Moorish knights
repaired from Granada to Seville; and took their stations with lighted
tapers in the centre of the sumptuous cathedral round the cenotaph
of the illustrious deceased。
Alhamar retained his faculties and vigor to an advanced age。 In
his sev