WORKS OF WASHINGTON IRVING. by one swept from his side, either transfixed with and herbs, hiding themselves during the day, and darts and lances by the soldiers of El Zagal, or sallying forth at night. So enfeebled and disheartencrushed by stones from the heights. The marques ed were they, that they offered no resistance if atwas a veteran warrior, and had been in many a tacked. Three or four soldiers would surrender to bloody battle; but never before had death fallen so a Moorish peasant; and even the women of Malaga thick and close around him. When he saw his re- sallied forth and made prisoners. Some were thrown maining brother, Don Beltram, struck out of his sad- into the dungeons of frontier towns, others led capdle by a fragment of a rock, and his horse running tive to Granada; but by far the greater number were wildly about without his rider, he gave a cry of an- conducted to Malaga, the city they had threatened to guish, and stood bewildered and aghast. A few attack. Two hundred and fifty principal cavaliers, faithful followers surrounded him, and entreated him alcaydes, commanders, and hidalgos, of generous to fly for his life. He would still have remained, to blood, were confined in the Alcazaba, or citadel of have shared the fortunes of his friend Don Alonzo Malaga, to await their ransom; and five hundred and de Aguilar, and his other companions in arms; but seventy of the common soldiery were crowded in an the forces of El Zagal were between him and them, enclosure or court-yard of the Alcazaba, to be sold and death was whistling by on every wind. tantly, therefore, he consented to fly. - Another horse Reluc- as slaves.* was brought him: his faithful adalid guided him by one of the steepest paths, which lasted for four leagues; the enemy still hanging on his traces, and thinning the scanty ranks of his followers. At length the marques reached the extremity of the mountain defiles, and, with a haggard remnant of his men, escaped by dint of hoof to Antiquera, The count of Cifuentes, with a few of his retain ers, in attempting to follow the marques of Cadiz, wandered into a narrow pass, where they were completely surrounded by the band of El Zagal. Finding all attempts at escape impossible, and resistance vain, the worthy count surrendered himself prisoner, as did also his brother Don Pedro de Silva, and the few of his retainers who survived. The dawn of day found Don Alonzo de Aguilar, with a handful of his followers, still among the mountains. They had attempted to follow the marques of Cadiz, but had been obliged to pause and defend themselves against the thickening forces of the enemy. They at length traversed the mountain, and reached the same valley where the marques had made his last disastrous stand. Wearied and perplexed, they sheltered themselves in a natural grotto, under an overhanging rock, which kept off the darts of the enemy; while a bubbling fountain gave them the means of slaking their raging thirst, and refreshing their exhausted steeds. As day broke, the scene of slaughter unfolded its horrors. There lay the noble brothers and nephews of the gallant marques, transfixed with darts, or gashed and bruised with unseemly wounds; while many other gallant cavaliers lay stretched out dead and dying around, some of them partly stripped and plundered by the Moors. De Aguilar was a pious knight, but his piety was not humble and resigned, like that of the worthy Master of Santiago. He imprecated holy curses upon the infidels, for having thus laid low the flower of Christian chivalry; and he vowed in his heart bitter vengeance upon the surrounding country. By degrees, the little force of De Aguilar was augmented by numbers of fugitives, who issued from caves and chasms, where they had taken refuge in the night. A little band of mounted knights was gradually formed; and the Moors having abandoned the heights to collect the spoils of the slain, this gallant but forlorn squadron was enabled to retreat to Antiquera. This disastrous affair lasted from Thursday evening, throughout Friday, the twenty-first of March, the festival of St. Benedict. It is still recorded in Spanish calendars, as the defeat of the mountains of Malaga; and the spot where the greatest slaughter took place, is pointed out to the present day, and is called la Cuesta de la Matanza, or The Hill of the Massacre. The principal leaders who survived, returned to Antiquera. Many of the knights took refuge in Alhama, and other towns; many wandered about the mountains for eight days, living on roots weapons taken from the slain, or thrown away by the Great spoils were collected of splendid armor and cavaliers in their flight; and many horses, magnificently caparisoned, together with numerous standards-all which were paraded in triumph into the Moorish towns. The merchants also, who had come with the army, themselves made objects of traffic. intending to traffic in the spoils of the Moors, were were driven like cattle, before the Moorish viragos, to the market of Malaga; and in spite of all their Several of them adroitness in trade, and their attempts to buy themselves off at a cheap ransom, they were unable to purchase their freedom without such draughts upon their money-bags at home, as drained them to the very bottom. CHAPTER XIII. EFFECTS OF THE DISASTERS AMONG THE from the tumult of excitement and admiration, THE people of Antiquera had scarcely recovered caused by the departure of the gallant band of cavaliers upon their foray, when they beheld the scattered wrecks flying for refuge to their wails. Day after day, and hour after hour, brought some wretched fugitive, in whose battered plight, and haggard, wobegone demeanor, it was almost impossible to recognise the warrior whom they had lately seen to issue so gaily and gloriously from their gates. covered with dust and blood, his armcr shattered The arrival of the marques of Cadiz, almost alone, and defaced, his countenance the picture of despair, filled every heart with sorrow, for he was greatly beloved by the people. The multitude asked where him as he went forth to the field; and when they was the band of brothers which had rallied round heard that they had, one by one, been slaughtered at his side, they hushed their voices, or spake to each other only in whispers as he passed, gazing at him in silent sympathy. No one attempted to console him in so great an affliction, nor did the good marbrooded in lonely anguish over his misfortune. It ques speak ever a word, but, shutting himself up, was only the arrival of Don Alonzo de Aguilar that gave him a gleam of consolation, for, amidst the shafts of death that had fallen so thickly among his family, he rejoiced to find that his chosen friend and brother in arms had escaped uninjured. of suspense, towards the Moorish border, anxiously * Cura de los Palacios. lineaments of some friend or relation, whose fate was yet a mystery. At length every hope and doubt subsided into certainty; the whole extent of this great calamity was known, spreading grief and consternation throughout the land, and laying desolate the pride and hopes of palaces. It was a sorrow that visited the marble hall and silken pillow. Stately dames mourned over the loss of their sons, the joy and glory of their age; and many a fair cheek was blanched with wo, that had lately mantled with secret admiration. 'All Andalusia," says a historian of the time, "was overwhelmed by a great affliction; there was no drying of the eyes which wept in her."* ought to be holy triumphs into scenes of brawling traffic. Such is the opinion of the excellent Agapida, in which he is joined by that most worthy and upright of chroniclers, the curate of Los Palacios. Agapida comforts himself, however, with the reflection, that this visitation was meant in mercy, to try the Castilian heart, and to extract, from its present humiliation, the elements of future success, as gold is extracted from amidst the impurities of earth; and in this reflection he is supported by the venerable historian Pedro Abarca, of the society of Jesuits.* CHAPTER XIV. Fear and trembling reigned, for a time, along the frontier. Their spear seemed broken, their buckler cleft in twain: every border town dreaded an attack, and the mother caught her infant to her bosom when the watch-dog howled in the night, fancying it the HOW KING BOABDIL EL CHICO MARCHED OVER war-cry of the Moor. All, for a time, seemed lost; and despondency even found its way to the royal breasts of Ferdinand and Isabella, amidst the splendors of their court. Great, on the other hand, was the joy of the Moors, when they saw whole legions of christian warriors brought captive into their towns, by rude mountain peasantry. They thought it the work of Allah in favor of the faithful. But when they recognized, among the captives thus dejected and broken down, some of the proudest of christian chivalry; when they saw several of the banners and devices of the noblest houses of Spain, which they had been accustomed to behold in the foremost of the battle, now trailed ignominiously through their streets; when, in short, they witnessed the arrival of the count of Cifuentes, the royal standard-bearer of Spain, with his gallant brother Don Pedro de Silva, brought prisoners into the gates of Granada, there were no bounds to their exultation. They thought that the days of their ancient glory were about to return, and that they were to renew their career of triumph over the unbelievers. THE BORDER. THE defeat of the christian cavaliers among the mountains of Malaga, and the successful inroad of Muley Aben Hassan into the lands of Medina Sidonia, had produced a favorable effect on the fortunes of the old monarch. The inconstant populace began to shout forth his name in the streets, and to sneer at the inactivity of his son Boabdil el Chico. The latter, though in the flower of his age, and distinguished for vigor and dexterity in jousts and tournaments, had never yet fleshed his weapon in the field of battle; and it was murmured that he preferred the silken repose of the cool halls of the Alhambra, to the fatigue and danger of the foray, and the hard encampments of the mountains. The popularity of these rival kings depended upon their success against the christians, and Boabdil el Chico found it necessary to strike some signal blow to counterbalance the late triumph of his father. He was further incited by the fierce old Moor, his fatherin-law, Ali Atar, alcayde of Loxa, with whom the coals of wrath against the christians still burned among the ashes of age, and had lately been blown into a flame by the attack made by Ferdinand on the city under his command. The christian historians of the time are sorely perplexed to account for this misfortune; and why so many christian knights, fighting in the cause of the holy faith, should thus miraculously, as it were, be Ali Atar informed Boabdil that the late discomfit given captive to a handful of infidel boors; for we ure of the christian knights had stripped Andalusia are assured, that all this rout and destruction was of the prime of her chivalry, and broken the spirit effected by five hundred foot and fifty horse, and of the country. All the frontier of Cordova and those mere mountaineers, without science or disci- Ecija now lay open to inroad; but he especially pline. "It was intended," observes one historiog-pointed out the city of Lucena as an object of attack, rapher, "as a lesson to their confidence and vain- being feebly garrisoned, and lying in a country rich glory; overrating their own prowess, and thinking in pasturage, abounding in cattle and grain, in oil that so chosen a band of chivalry had but to appear and wine. The fiery old Moor spoke from thorough in the land of the enemy, and conquer. It was to information; for he had made many an incursion into teach them that the race is not to the swift, nor the these parts, and his very name was a terror throughbattle to the strong, but that God alone giveth the out the country. It had become a by-word in the victory." garrison of Loxa to call Lucena the garden of Ali Atar, for he was accustomed to forage its fertile territories for all his supplies. The worthy father Fray Antonio Agapida, however, asserts it to be a punishment for the avarice of the Spanish warriors. They did not enter the kingdom of the infidels with the pure spirit of christian knights, zealous only for the glory of the faith, but rather as greedy men of traffic, to enrich themselves by vending the spoils of the infidels. Instead of preparing themselves by confession and communion, and executing their testaments, and making donations and bequests to churches and convents, they thought only of arranging bargains and sales of their anticipated booty. Instead of taking with them holy monks to aid them with their prayers, they were followed by a train of trading men, to keep alive their worldly and sordid ideas, and to turn what Boabdil el Chico listened to the persuasions of this veteran of the borders. He assembled a force of nine thousand foot and seven hundred horse, most of them his own adherents, but many the partisans of his father; for both factions, however they might fight among themselves, were ready to unite in any expedition against the christians. Many of the most illustrious and valiant of the Moorish nobility assembled round his standard, magnificently arrayed in sumptuous armor and rich embroidery, as though they were going to a festival or a tilt of canes, rather than an enterprise of iron war. Boabdil's mother, the sultana Ayxa la Horra, armed him for the field. * Abarca, Annales de Aragon, Rey 30. cap. 2. § 7. and gave him her benediction as she girded his He had flattered himself that their march had been scimitar to his side. His favorite wife Morayma so rapid as to outstrip intelligence, and that Lucena wept, as she thought of the evils that might befall would be an easy capture; when suddenly he beheld him. Why dost thou weep, daughter of Ali Atar?" alarm-fires blazing upon the mountains. We are said the high-minded Ayxa: "these tears become discovered," said he to Boabdil el Chico; "the not the daughter of a warrior, nor the wife of a country will be up in arms; we have nothing left king. Believe me, there lurks more danger for a but to strike boldly for Lucena; it is but slightly monarch within the strong walls of a palace, than garrisoned, and we may carry it by assault before within the frail curtains of a tent. It is by perils in it can receive assistance." The king approved the field, that thy husband must purchase security of his counsel, and they marched rapidly for the on his throne." gate of Lucena. But Morayma still hung upon his neck, with tears and sad forebodings; and when he departed from the Alhambra, she betook herself to her mirador, which looks out over the vega. From thence she watched the army, as it went, in shining order, along CHAPTER XV. HIS CASTLE, IN QUEST OF KING BOABDIL. the road which leads to Loxa; and every burst of HOW THE COUNT DE CABRA SALLIED FORTH FROM warlike melody that came swelling on the breeze, was answered by a gush of sorrow. As the royal cavalcade issued from the palace and descended through the streets of Granada, the populace greeted their youthful sovereign with shouts, and anticipated success that should wither the laurels of his father. In passing through the gate of Elvira, however, the king accidentally broke his lance against the arch. At this, certain of his nobles turned pale, and entreated him to turn back, for they regarded it as an evil omen. Boabdil scoffed at their fears, for he considered them mere idle fancies; or rather, (says Fray Antonio Agapida,) he was an incredulous pagan, puffed up with confidence and vain-glory. He refused to take another spear, but drew forth his scimitar, and led the way (adds Agapida) in an arrogant and haughty style, as though he would set both heaven and earth at defiance. Another evil omen was sent, to deter him from his enterprise; arriving at the rambla, or dry ravine of Beyro, which is scarcely a bow-shot from the city, a fox ran through the whole army, and close by the person of the king; and, though a thousand bolts were discharged at it, escaped uninjured to the mountains. The principal courtiers about Boabdil now reiterated their remonstrances against proceeding; for they considered these occurrences as mysterious portents of disasters to their army; the king, however, was not to be dismayed, but continued to march forward.* At Loxa, the royal army was reinforced by old Ali Atar, with the chosen horsemen of his garrison, and many of the bravest warriors of the border towns. The people of Loxa shouted with exultation, when they beheld Ali Atar, armed at all points, and once more mounted on his Barbary steed, which had often borne him over the borders. The veteran warrior, with nearly a century of years upon his head, had all the fire and animation of youth, at the prospect of a foray, and careered from rank to rank with the velocity of an Arab of the desert. The populace watched the army, as it paraded over the bridge, and wound into the passes of the mountains; and still their eyes were fixed upon the pennon of Ali Atar, as if it bore with it an assurance of victory. The Moorish army entered the christian frontier by forced marches, hastily ravaging the country, driving off the flocks and herds, and making captives of the inhabitants. They pressed on furiously, and made the latter part of their march in the night, that they might elude observation, and come upon Lucena by surprise. Boabdil was inexperienced in the art of war, but he had a veteran counsellor in his old father-in-law; for Ali Atar knew every secret of the country, and, as he prowled through it, his eye ranged over the land, uniting, in its glare, the craft of the fox with the sanguinary ferocity of the wolf. Marmol. Rebel. de los Moros, lib. 1, c. xii. fol. 14. DON Diego de Cordova, count of Cabra, was in the castle of Vaena, which, with the town of the same name, is situated on a lofty sun-burnt hill on the frontier of the kingdom of Cordova, and but a few leagues from Lucena. The range of mountains of Horquera lie between them. The castle of Vaena was strong, and well furnished with arms, and the count had a numerous band of vassals and retainers; for it behoved the noblemen of the frontiers, in those times, to be well prepared with man and horse, with lance and buckler, to resist the sudden incursions of the Moors. The count of Cabra was a hardy and experienced warrior, shrewd in council. prompt in action, rapid and fearless in the field. He was one of the bravest cavaliers for an inroad, and had been quickened and sharpened, in thought and action, by living on the borders. On the night of the 20th of April, 1483, the count was about to retire to rest, when the watchman from the turret brought him word that there were alarm. fires on the mountains of Horquera, and that they were made on the signal-tower overhanging the defile through which the road passes to Cabra and Lucena. The count ascended the battlement, and beheld five lights blazing on the tower, a sign that there was a Moorish army attacking some place on the frontier. The count instantly ordered the alarm-bells to be sounded, and dispatched couriers to rouse the commanders of the neighboring towns. He ordered all his retainers to prepare for action, and sent a trumpet through the town, summoning the men te assemble at the castle-gate at daybreak, armed and equipped for the field. Throughout the remainder of the night, the castle resounded with the din of preparation. Every house in the town was in equal bustle; for in these frontier towns, every house had its warrior, and the lance and buckler were ever hanging against the wall, ready to be snatched down for instant service. Nothing was heard but the din of armorers, the shoeing of studs, and furbishing up of weapons; and, all night long, the alarm-fires kept blazing on the mountains. When the morning dawned, the count of Cabra sallied forth, at the head of two hundred and fifty cavaliers, of the best families of Vaena, all well appointed, exercised in arms, and experienced in the warfare of the borders. There were, besides, twelve hundred foot-soldiers, all brave and well seasoned men of the same town. The count ordered them to hasten forward, whoever could make most speed, taking the road to Cabra, which was three leagues distant. That they might not loiter on the road, he allowed none of them to break their fast until they arrived at that place. The provident count dispatch ed couriers in advance, and the little army, on reaching Cabra, found tables spread with food and refreshments, at the gates of the town. Here they were joined by Don Alonzo de Cordova, Senior of Zuheros. Having made a hearty repast, they were on the point of resuming their march, when the count discovered, that, in the hurry of his departure from home, he had forgotten to bring the standard of Vaena, which for upwards of eighty years had always been borne to battle by his family. It was now noon, and there was not time to return; he took, therefore, the standard of Cabra, the device of which is a goat, and which has not been seen in the wars for the last half century. When about to depart, a courier came galloping at full speed, bringing missives to the count from his nephew, Don Diego Hernandez de Cordova, Senior of Lucena and alcayde de los Don-hundred. zeles, entreating him to hasten to his aid, as his town was beset by the Moorish king Boabdil el Chico, with a powerful army, who were actually setting fire to the gates. The Moorish army had ceased ravaging the country, and were not to be seen, the neighborhood being hilly, and broken with deep ravines. The count dispatched six scouts on horseback to reconnoitre, ordering them to return with all speed when they should have discovered the enemy, and by no means to engage in skirmishing with stragglers. The scouts, ascending a high hill, beheld the Moorish army in a valley behind it, the cavalry ranged in five battalions keeping guard, while the foot-soldiers were seated on the grass making a repast. They returned immediately with the intelligence. The count now ordered the troops to march in the direction of the enemy. He and his nephew ascended the hill, and saw that the five battalions of Moorish cavalry had been formed into two, one of about nine hundred lances, the other of about six The whole force seemed prepared to march for the frontier. The foot-soldiers were already under way, with many prisoners, and a great train of mules and beasts of burden, laden with booty. At a distance was Boabdil el Chico: they could not distinguish his person, but they knew him by his superb white charger, magnificently caparisoned, and by his being surrounded by a numerous guard, sumptuously armed and attired. Old Ali Atar was careering about the valley with his usual impatience, hurrying the march of the loitering troops. The count put his little army instantly in movement for Lucena, which is only one league from Cabra; he was fired with the idea of having the Moorish king in person to contend with. By the time he reached Lucena, the Moors had desisted from the attack, and were ravaging the surrounding country. He entered the town with a few of his cavaliers, and was received with joy by his nephew, The eyes of the count de Cabra glistened with whose whole force consisted but of eighty horse and eager joy, as he beheld the royal prize within his three hundred foot. Don Diego Hernandez de Cor- reach. The immense disparity of their forces never dova was a young man, yet he was a prudent, care-entered into his mind. By Santiago!" said he to ful, and capable officer. Having learnt, the evening his nephew, as they hastened down the hill, "had before, that the Moors had passed the frontiers, he we waited for more forces, the Moorish king and his had gathered within his walls all the women and army would have escaped us!" children from the environs; had armed the men, sent couriers in all directions for succor, and had lighted alarm-fires on the mountains. The count now harangued his men, to inspirit them to this hazardous encounter. He told them not to be dismayed at the number of Moors, for Boabdil had arrived with his army at daybreak, God often permitted the few to conquer the many; and had sent in a message threatening to put the and he had great confidence, that, through the digarrison to the sword, if the place were not instantly vine aid, they were that day to achieve a signal vicsurrendered. The messenger was a Moor of Gra- tory, which should win them both riches and renown. nada, named Hamet, whom Don Diego had formerly He commanded that no man should hurl his lance known: he contrived to amuse him with negotiation, at the enemy, but should keep it in his hands, and to gain time for succor to arrive. The fierce old strike as many blows with it as he could. He warned Ali Atar, losing all patience, had made an assault them, also, never to shout except when the Moors upon the town, and stormed like a fury at the gate; did; for, when both armies shouted together, there but had been repulsed. Another and more serious was no perceiving which made the most noise and attack was expected, in the course of the night. was the strongest. He desired his uncle Lope de When the count de Cabra had heard this account| of the situation of affairs, he turned to his nephew with his usual alacrity of manner, and proposed that they should immediately sally forth in quest of the enemy. The prudent Don Diego remonstrated at the rashness of attacking so great a force with a mere handful of men. "Nephew," said the count, "I came from Vaena with a determination to fight this Moorish king, and I will not be disappointed." 44 Mendoza, and Diego Cabrera, alcayde of Menica, to alight and enter on foot in the battalion of infantry, to animate them to the combat. He appointed, also, the alcayde of Vaena and Diego de Clavijo, a cavalier of his household, to remain in the rear, and not to permit any one to lag behind, either to despoil the dead, or for any other purpose. Such were the orders given by this most adroit, active, and intrepid cavalier, to his little army, supplying, by admirable sagacity and subtle management, the want of a more numerous force. His orders being given, and all arrangements made, he threw aside his lance, drew his sword, and commanded his standard to be advanced against the "At any rate," replied Don Diego, let us wait but two hours, and we shall have reinforcements which have been promised me from Rambla, Santaella, Montilla, and other places in the neighborhood." "If we await these," said the hardy count, the Moors will be off, and all our trouble will have been enemy. in vain. You may await them, if you please; I am resolved on fighting." The count paused for no reply; but, in his prompt and rapid manner, sallied forth to his men. The young alcayde de los Donzeles, though more prudent than his ardent uncle, was equally brave; he determined to stand by him in his rash enterprise, and, summoning his little force, marched forth to join the count, who was already on the move. They then proceeded together in quest of the enemy. CHAPTER XVI. THE BATTLE OF LUCENA. THE Moorish king had descried the Spanish forces at a distance, although a slight fog prevented his seeing them distinctly, and ascertaining their numbers. His old father-in-law, Ali Atar, was by his the thickets which fringed the river. A soldier of Lucena, named Martin Hurtado, discovered him, and attacked him with a pike. The king defended himself with scimitar and target, until another soldier assailed him, and he saw a third approaching. Per side, who, being a veteran marauder, was well ac-yield or to ask for quarter. The ground was covered quainted with all the standards and armorial bear-with the dead and dying. The king, having retreated ings of the frontiers. When the king beheld the along the river banks, and gained some distance from ancient and long-disused banner of Cabra emerging the scene of combat, looked back, and saw the loyal from the mist, he turned to Ali Atar, and demanded band at length give way. They crossed the ford, whose ensign it was. The old borderer was for followed pell-mell by the enemy, and several of them once at a loss, for the banner had not been dis- were struck down into the stream. played in battle in his time. "Sire," replied he, The king now dismounted from his white charger after a pause, "I have been considering that stand-whose color and rich caparison made him too conard, but do not know it. It appears to be a dog, spicuous, and endeavored to conceal himself among which device is borne by the towns of Baeza and Ubeda. If it be so, all Andalusia is in movement | against you; for it is not probable that any single commander or community would venture to attack you. I would advise you, therefore, to retire." The count de Cabra, in winding down the hill to-ceiving that further resistance would be vain, he wards the Moors, found himself on much lower ground than the enemy: he ordered in all haste that his standard should be taken back, so as to gain the vantage ground. The Moors, mistaking this for a retreat, rushed impetuously towards the christians. The latter, having gained the height proposed, charged down upon them at the same moment, with the battle-cry of "Santiago!" and, dealing the first blows, laid many of the Moorish cavaliers in the dust. The Moors, thus checked in their tumultuous assault, were thrown into confusion, and began to give way, the christians following hard upon them. Boabdil el Chico endeavored to rally them. "Hold! hold! for shame!" cried he; "let us not fly, at least until we know our enemy." The Moorish chivalry were stung by this reproof, and turned to make front, with the valor of men who feel that they are fighting under their monarch's eye. At this moment, Lorenzo de Porres, alcayde of Luque, arrived with fifty horse and one hundred foot, sounding an Italian trumpet from among a copse of oak trees, which concealed his force. The quick ear of old Ali Atar caught the note. "That is an Italian trumpet," said he to the king; "the whole world seems in arms against your majesty!" The trumpet of Lorenzo de Porres was answered by that of the count de Cabra, in another direction, and it seemed to the Moors as if they were between two armies. Don Lorenzo, sallying from among the oaks, now charged upon the enemy: the latter did not wait to ascertain the force of this new foe; the confusion, the variety of alarums, the attacks from opposite quarters, the obscurity of the fog, all conspired to deceive them as to the number of their adversaries. Broken and dismayed, they retreated fighting; and nothing but the presence and remonstrance of the king prevented their retreat from becoming a headlong flight. This skirmishing retreat lasted for about three leagues. Many were the acts of individual prowess between christian and Moorish knights, and the way was strewed with the flower of the king's guards and of his royal household. At length they came to the rivulet of Mingonzales, the verdant banks of which were covered with willows and tamarisks. It was swoln by recent rain, and was now a deep and turbid torrent. Here the king made a courageous stand with a small body of cavalry, while his baggage crossed the stream. None but the choicest and most loyal of his guards stood by their monarch, in this hour of extremity. The foot-soldiers took to flight, the moment they passed the ford; many of the horsemen, partaking of the general panic, gave reins to their steeds and scoured for the frontier. The little host of devoted cavaliers now serried their forces in front of their monarch, to protect his retreat. They fought hand to hand with the christian warriors, disdaining to drew back and called upon them to desist, offering them a noble ransom. One of the soldiers rushed forward to seize him, but the king struck him to the earth with a blow of his scimitar. Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova coming up at this moment, the men said to him, “Señor, here is a Moor that we have taken, who seems to be a man of rank, and offers a large ransom." "Slaves!" exclaimed king Boabdil, "you have not taken me. I surrender to this cavalier." Don Diego received him with knightly courtesy. He perceived him to be a person of high rank; but the king concealed his quality, and gave himself out as the son of Aben Aleyzar, a nobleman of the royal household.* Don Diego gave him in charge of five soldiers, to conduct him to the castle of Lucena ; then, putting spurs to his horse, he hastened to rejoin the count de Cabra, who was in hot pursuit of the enemy. He overtook him at a stream called Rianaul; and they continued to press on the skirts of the flying army, during the remainder of the day. The pursuit was almost as hazardous as the battle; for, had the enemy at any time recovered from their panic, they might, by a sudden reaction, have overwhelmed the small force of their pursuers. To guard against this peril, the wary count kept his battalion always in close order, and had a body of a hundred chosen lancers in the advance. The Moors kept up a Parthian retreat; several times they turned to make battle; but, seeing this solid body of steeled warriors pressing upon them, they again took to flight. The main retreat of the army was along the valley watered by the Xenel, and opening through the mountains of Algaringo to the city of Loxa. The alarm-fires of the preceding night had roused the country; every man snatched sword and buckler from the wall, and the towns and villages poured forth their warriors to harass the retreating foe. Ali Atar kept the main force of the army together, and turned fiercely from time to time upon his pursuers; he was like a wolf, hunted through the country he had often made desolate by his maraudings. The alarm of this invasion had reached the city of Antiquera, where were several of the cavaliers who had escaped from the carnage in the mountains of Malaga. Their proud minds were festering with their late disgrace, and their only prayer was for vengeance on the infidels. No sooner did they hear of the Moor being over the border, than they were armed and mounted for action. Don Alonzo de Aguilar led them forth;-a small body of but forty horsemen, but all cavaliers of prowess, and thirsting for revenge. They came upon the foe on the banks of the Xenel, where it winds through the valleys of Cordova. The river, swelled by the late rains, was deep and turbulent, and only fordable at Garibay, lib. 40, c. 31. |