dence which this success would impart to the Moors: she feared also for the important fortress of Alhama, the garrison of which had not been reinforced, since its foraging party had been cut off by this same El Zagal. On every side the queen saw danger and disaster, and feared that a general reverse was about to attend the Castilian arms. but tremendous torrents which prevail during the autumnal rains. It was walled on each side by lofty and almost perpendicular cliffs, but great masses of moonlight were thrown into the bottom of the glen, glittering on the armor of the shining squadrons, as they silently passed through it. Suddenly the warcry of the Moors rose in various parts of the valley; "Él Zagal! El Zagal!" was shouted from every The grand cardinal comforted her with both cliff, accompanied by showers of missiles, that struck spiritual and worldly counsel. He told her to recoldown several of the christian warriors. The count lect that no country was ever conquered without oclifted up his eyes, and beheld, by the light of the casional reverses to the conquerors; that the Moors moon, every cliff glistening with Moorish soldiery. were a warlike people, fortified in a rough and The deadly shower fell thickly round him, and the mountainous country, where they never could be shining armor of his followers made them fair ob-conquered by her ancestors,-and that in fact her jects for the aim of the enemy. The count saw his armies had already, in three years, taken more cities brother Gonzalo struck dead by his side; his own than those of any of her predecessors had been able horse sunk under him, pierced by four Moorish to do in twelve. He concluded by offering himself lances; and he received a wound in the hand from to take the field, with three thousand cavalry, his an arquebuss. He remembered the horrible massa- own retainers, paid and maintained by himself, and cre of the mountains of Malaga, and feared a similar either hasten to the relief of Alhama, or undertake catastrophe. There was no time to pause. His any other expedition her majesty might command. brother's horse, freed from his slaughtered rider, The discreet words of the cardinal soothed the spirit was running at large; seizing the reins, he sprang of the queen, who always looked to him for consolainto the saddle, called upon his men to follow him, tion; and she soon recovered her usual equanimity. and, wheeling round, retreated out of the fatal valley. The Moors, rushing down from the heights, pursued the retreating christians. The chase endured for a league, but it was a league of rough and broken road, where the christians had to turn and fight at almost every step. In these short but fierce combats, the enemy lost many cavaliers of note; but the loss of the christians was infinitely more grievous, comprising numbers of the noblest warriors of Vaena and its vicinity. Many of the christians, disabled by wounds or exhausted by fatigue, turned aside and endeavored to conceal themselves among rocks and thickets, but never more rejoined their companions, being slain or captured by the Moors, or perishing in their wretched retreats. The arrival of the troops led by the Master of Calatrava and the bishop of Jaen, put an end to the rout. El Zagal contented himself with the laurels he had gained, and, ordering the trumpets to call off his men from the pursuit, returned in great triumph to Moclin.* Some of the counsellors of Isabella, of that politic class who seek to rise by the faults of others, were loud in their censures of the rashness of the count. The queen defended him, with prompt generosity. "The enterprise," said she, "was rash, but not more rash than that of Lucena, which was crowned with success, and which we have all applauded as the height of heroism. Had the count de Cabra succeeded in capturing the uncle, as he did the nephew, who is there that would not have praised him to the skies?" The magnanimous words of the queen put a stop to all invidious remarks in her presence; but certain of the courtiers, who had envied the count the glory gained by his former achievements, continued to magnify, among themselves, his present imprudence, and we are told by Fray Antonio Agapida, that they sneeringly gave the worthy cavalier the appellation of count de Cabra, the king-catcher. He Ferdinand had reached the place on the frontier called the Fountain of the King, within three leagues of Moclin, when he heard of the late disaster. greatly lamented the precipitation of the count, but forbore to express himself with severity, for he knew the value of that loyal and valiant cavalier.* He held a council of war, to determine what course was to be pursued. Some of his cavaliers advised him to abandon the attempt upon Moclin, the place being strongly reinforced, and the enemy inspirited by his recent victory. Certain old Spanish hidalgos reminded him that he had but few Castilian troops in his army, without which staunch soldiery his predecessors never presumed to enter the Moorish territory; while others remonstrated that it would be beneath the dignity of a king to retire from an enterprise, on account of the defeat of a single cavalier and his retainers. In this way the king was distracted by a multitude of counsellors, when fortunately a letter from the queen put an end to his perplexities. Proceed we, in the next chapter, to relate what was the purport of that letter. Queen Isabella was at Vaena, awaiting with great anxiety the result of the expedition. She was in a stately apartment of the castle, looking towards the road that winds through the mountains from Moclin, and regarding the watch-towers that crowned the neighboring heights, in hopes of favorable signals. The prince and princess, her children, were with her, and her venerable counsellor, the grand cardinal. All shared in the anxiety of the moment. At length couriers were seen riding towards the town. They entered its gates, but before they reached the castle, the nature of their tidings was known to the queen, by the shrieks and wailings that rose from the streets below. The messengers were soon followed by wounded fugitives, hastening home to be relieved, or to die among their friends and families. The whole town resounded with lamentations; for it had lost the flower of its youth, and its bravest warriors. Isabella was a woman of courageous soul, but her feelings were overpowered by the spectacle of wo which presented itself on every side; her maternal heart mourned over the death of so many loyal subjects, who so shortly before had rallied round her with devoted affection; and, losing her usual self- EXPEDITION AGAINST THE CASTLES OF CAMBIL command, she sunk into deep despondency. In this gloomy state of mind, a thousand apprehensions crowded upon her. She dreaded the confi Zurita, lib. 20, c. 4. Pulgar, Cronica. CHAPTER XXXIII. AND ALBAHAR. "HAPPY are those princes," exclaims the worthy padre Fray Antonio Agapida, "who have women Abarca, Anales de Aragon. The marques of Cadiz was accordingly sent in advance, with two thousand horse, to keep a watch upon the garrisons, and prevent all entrance or exit, until the king should arrive with the main army and the battering artillery. The queen, to be near at hand in case of need, moved her quarters to the city of Jaen, where she was received with martial honors by the belligerent bishop, who had buckled on his cuirass and girded on his sword, to fight in the cause of his diocese. and priests to advise them, for in these dwelleth the to the king. It came just in time to relieve lim spirit of counsel. While Ferdinand and his captains from the distraction of a multitude of counsellors, were confounding each other in their deliberations and he immediately undertook the reduction of those at the Fountain of the King, a quiet but deep little castles. council of war was held in the state apartment of the old castle of Vaena, between queen Isabella, the venerable Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza, grand cardinal of Spain, and Don Garcia Osorio, the belligerent bishop of Jaen. This last worthy prelate, who had exchanged his mitre for a helm, no sooner beheld the defeat of the enterprise against Moclin, than he turned the reins of his sleek, stall-fed steed, and hastened back to Vaena, full of a project for the employment of the army, the advancement of the faith, and the benefit of his own diocese. He knew that the actions of the king were influenced by the opinions of the queen, and that the queen always inclined a listening ear to the counsels of saintly men: he laid his plans, therefore, with the customary wisdom of his cloth, to turn the ideas of the queen into the proper channel; and this was the purport of the -worthy bishop's suggestions. In the mean time, the marques of Cadiz arrived in the valley, and completely shut up the Moors within their walls. The castles were under the command of Mahomet Lentin Ben Usef, an Abencerrage, and one of the bravest cavaliers of Granada. In his garrisons were many troops of the fierce African tribe of Gomeres. Mahomet Lentin, confident in the strength of his fortresses, smiled as he looked down from his battlements upon the christian cavalry, perplexed in the rough and narrow valley. He sent forth skirmishing parties to harass them, and there were many sharp combats between small parties and single knights; but the Moors were driven back to their castles, and all attempts to send intelligence of their situation to Granada, were frustrated by the vigilance of the marques of Cadiz. The bishopric of Jaen had for a long time been harassed by two Moorish castles, the scourge and terror of all that part of the country. They were situated on the frontiers of the kingdom of Granada, about four leagues from Jaen, in a deep, narrow, and rugged valley, surrounded by lofty mountains. Through this valley runs the Rio Frio, (or Cold river,) in a deep channel, worn between high precipitous banks. On each side of the stream rise two At length the legions of the royal army came pourvast rocks, nearly perpendicular, within a stone's-ing, with vaunting trumpet and fluttering banner, throw of each other; blocking up the gorge of the along the defiles of the mountains. They halted bevalley. On the summits of these rocks stood the two fore the castles, but the king could not find room in formidable castles, Cambil and Albahar, fortified with the narrow and rugged valley to form his camp: he battlements and towers of great height and thickness. had to divide it into three parts, which were posted They were connected together by a bridge thrown on different heights; and his tents whitened the sides from rock to rock across the river. The road, which of the neighboring hills. When the encampment was passed through the valley, traversed this bridge, and formed, the army remained gazing idly at the castles. was completely commanded by these castles. They The artillery was upwards of four leagues in the rear, stood like two giants of romance, guarding the pass, and without artillery all attack would be in vain. and dominating the valley. The kings of Granada, knowing the importance of these castles, kept them always well garrisoned, and victualled to stand a siege, with fleet steeds and hard riders, to forage the country of the christians. The warlike race of the Abencerrages, the troops of the royal household, and others of the choicest chivalry of Granada, made them their strong-holds, or posts of arms, from whence to sally forth on those predatory and roving enterprises which were the delight of the Moorish cavaliers. As the wealthy bishopric of Jaen lay immediately at hand, it suffered more peculiarly from these marauders. They drove off the fat beeves and the flocks of sheep from the pastures, and swept the laborers from the field; they scoured the country to the very gates of Jaen, so that the citizens could not venture from their walls, without the risk of being borne off captive to the dungeons of these castles. The alcayde Mahomet Lentin knew the nature of the road by which the artillery had to be brought. It was merely a narrow and rugged path, at times scaling almost perpendicular crags and precipices, up which it was utterly impossible for wheel carriages to pass; neither was it in the power of man or beast to draw up the lombards, and other ponderous ordnance. He felt assured, therefore, that they never could be brought to the camp; and, without their aid, what could the christians effect against his rockbuilt castles? He scoffed at them, therefore, as he saw their tents by day and their fires by night covering the surrounding heights. "Let them linger here a little while longer," said he, “and the autumnal torrents will wash them from the mountains." While the alcayde was thus closely mewed up within his walls, and the christians remained inactive in their camp, he noticed, one calm autumnal day, the sound of implements of labor echoing among the The worthy bishop, like a good pastor, beheld with mountains, and now and then the crash of a falling grief of heart his fat bishopric daily waxing leaner tree, or a thundering report, as if some rock had and leaner, and poorer and poorer; and his holy ire been heaved from its bed and hurled into the valley. was kindled at the thoughts that the possessions of The alcayde was on the battlements of his castle, the church should thus be at the mercy of a crew of surrounded by his knights. "Methinks," said he, infidels. It was the urgent counsel of the bishop," these christians are making war upon the rocks therefore, that the military force, thus providentially and trees of the mountains, since they find our castles assembled in the neighborhood, since it was appar- unassailable." ently fciled in its attempt upon Moclin, should be The sounds did not cease even during the night: turned against these insolent castles, and the country every now and then, the Moorish sentinel, as he delivered from their domination. The grand cardinal paced the battlements, heard some crash echoing supported the suggestion of the bishop, and declared among the heights. The return of day explained the that he had long meditated the policy of a measure mystery. Scarcely did the sun shine against the of the kind. Their united opinions found favor with summits of the mountains, than shouts burst from the the queen, and she dispatched a letter on the subject | cliffs opposite to the castles, and were answered from the camp, with joyful sound of kettle-drums | on a mount that rose in form of a cone or pyramid, and trumpets. The astonished Moors lifted up their eyes, and beheld, as it were, a torrent of war breaking out of a narrow defile. There was a multitude of men, with pickaxes, spades, and bars of iron, clearing away every obstacle; while behind them slowly moved along great teams of oxen, dragging heavy ordnance, and all the munitions of battering artillery. "What cannot women and priests effect, when hey unite in council?" exclaims again the worthy Antonio Agapida. The queen had held another consultation with the grand cardinal and the belligerent bishop of Jaen. It was clear that the heavy ordnance could never be conveyed to the camp by the regular road of the country; and without battering artillery, nothing could be effected. It was suggested, however, by the zealous bishop, that another road might be opened, through a more practicable part of the mountains. It would be an undertaking extravagant and chimerical, with ordinary means; and, therefore, unlooked for by the enemy; but what could not kings effect, who had treasures and armies at command? The project struck the enterprising spirit of the queen. Six thousand men, with pickaxes, crowbars, and every other necessary implement, were set to work day and night, to break a road through the very centre of the mountains. No time was to be lost, for it was rumored that El Zagal was about to march with a mighty host to the relief of the castles. The bustling bishop of Jaen acted as pioneer, to mark the route and superintend the laborers; and the grand cardinal took care that the work should never languish through lack of means.* on the side of the river near to Albahar, and commanded both castles. This was an operation of great skill and excessive labor, but it was repaid by complete success; for the Moors did not dare to wait until this terrible battery should discharge its fury. Satisfied that all further resistance was vain, the valiant alcayde made signal for a parley. The articles of capitulation were soon arranged. The alcayde and his garrisons were permitted to return in safety to the city of Granada, and the castles were delivered into the possession of king Ferdinand, on the day of the festival of St. Matthew, in the month of September. They were immediately repaired, strongly garrisoned, and delivered in charge to the city of Jaen. The effects of this triumph were immediately apparent. Quiet and security once more settled upon the bishopric. The husbandmen tilled their fields in peace, the herds and flocks fattened unmolested in the pastures, and the vineyards yielded corpulent skinsful of rosy wine. The good bishop enjoyed, in the gratitude of his people, the approbation of his conscience, the increase of his revenues, and the abundance of his table, a reward for all his toils and perils. "This glorious victory," exclaims Fray Antonio Agapida, "achieved by such extraordinary management and infinite labor, is a shining example of what a bishop can effect, for the promotion of the faith and the good of his diocese." CHAPTER XXXIV. AGAINST ZALEA. WHILE these events were taking place on the When kings' treasures," says Fray Antonio Aga- ENTERPRISE OF THE KNIGHTS OF CALATRAVA pida, "are dispensed by priestly hands, there is no stint, as the glorious annals of Spain bear witness." Under the guidance of these ghostly men, it seemed as il miracles were effected. Almost an entire mount-northern frontier of the kingdom of Granada, the ain was levelled, valleys filled up, trees hewn down, important fortress of Alhama was neglected, and rocks broken and overturned; in short, all the ob- its commander, Don Gutiere de Padilla, clavero of stacles which nature had heaped around, entirely Calatrava, reduced to great perplexity. The remand promptly vanished. In little more than twelve nant of the foraging party, which had been surdays, this gigantic work was effected, and the ord-prised and massacred by the fierce El Zagal when nance dragged to the camp, to the great triumph of the christians and confusion of the Moors.t When the valiant alcayde, Mahomet Lentin, found his towers tumbling about him, and his bravest men dashed from the walls, without the power of inflicting a wound upon the foe, his haughty spirit was greatly exasperated. "Of what avail," said he, bitterly, "is all the prowess of knighthood against these cowardly engines, that murder from afar. on his way to Granada to receive the crown, had returned in confusion and dismay to the fortress. No sooner was the heavy artillery arrived, than it They could only speak of their own disgrace, being was mounted, in all haste, upon the neighboring obliged to abandon their cavalgada, and to fly, purheights; Francisco Ramirez de Madrid, the first ensued by a superior force: of the flower of their gineer in Spain, superintended the batteries, and soon party, the gallant knights of Calatrava, who had opened a destructive fire upon the castles. remained behind in the valley, they knew nothing. A few days cleared up all the mystery of their fate: tidings were brought that their bloody heads had been borne in triumph into Granada by the ferocious El Zagal. The surviving knights of Calatrava, who formed a part of the garrison, burned to revenge the death of their comrades, and to wipe out the stigma of this defeat; but the clavero had been rendered cautious by disaster,-he resisted all their entreaties for a foray. His garrison was weakened by the loss of so many of its bravest men; the vega was patrolled by numerous and powerful squadrons, sent forth by the warlike El Zagal; above all, the movements of the garrison were watched by the warriors of Zalea, a strong town, only two leagues distant, on the road towards Loxa. This place was a continual check upon Alhama when in its most powerful state, placing ambuscades to entrap the christian cavaliers in the course of their sallies. Frequent and bloody skirmishes had taken place, in consequence; and the troops of Alhama, when returning from their forays, had often to fight their way back through the squadrons of Zalea. Thus surrounded by dangers, Don Gutiere de Padilla re For a whole day, a tremendous fire kept thundering upon the castle of Albahar. The lombards discharged large stones, which demolished two of the towers, and all the battlements which guarded the portal. If any Moors attempted to defend the walls or repair the breaches, they were shot down by ribadoquines, and other small pieces of artillery. The christian soldiery issued forth from the camp, under cover of this fire; and, approaching the castles, discharged flights of arrows and stones through the openings made by the ordnance. At length, to bring the siege to a conclusion, Francisco Ramirez elevated some of the heaviest artillery Zurita, Anales de Aragon, lib. 20, c. 64. Pulgar, part 3, cap. 51. + Idem. strained the eagerness of his troops for a sally, knowing that any additional disaster might be followed by the loss of Alhama. In the meanwhile, provisions began to grow scarce; they were unable to forage the country as usual for supplies, and depended for relief upon the Castilian sovereigns. The defeat of the count de Cabra filled the measure of their perplexities, as it interrupted the intended reinforcements and supplies. To such extremity were they reduced, that they were compelled to kill some of their horses for provisions. The worthy clavero, Don Gutiere de Padilla, was pondering one day on this gloomy state of affairs, when a Moor was brought before him who had surrendered himself at the gate of Alhama, and claimed an audience. Don Gutiere was accustomed to visits of the kind from renegado Moors, who roamed the country as spies and adalides; but the countenance of this man was quite unknown to him. He had a box strapped to his shoulders, containing divers articles of traffic, and appeared to be one of those itinerant traders, who often resorted to Alhama and the other garrison towns, under pretext of vending trivial merchandise, such as amulets, perfumes, and trinkets, but who often produced rich shawls, golden chains and necklaces, and valuable gems and jewels. The Moor requested a private conference with the clavero: "I have a precious jewel," said he, "to dispose of." " "I want no jewels," replied Don Gutiere. For the sake of him who died on the cross, the great prophet of your faith," said the Moor, solemnly, "refuse not my request; the jewel I speak of you alone can purchase, but I can only treat about it in secret." Don Gutiere perceived there was something hidden under these mystic and figurative terms, in which the Moors were often accustomed to talk. He motioned to his attendants to retire. When they were alone, the Moor looked cautiously round the apartment, and then, approaching close to the knight, demanded in a low voice, "What will you give me, if I deliver the fortress of Zalea into your hands?" Don Gutiere looked with surprise at the humble individual that made such a suggestion. "What means have you," said he, "of effecting such a proposition?" "I have a brother in the garrison of Zalea," replied the Moor, "who, for a proper compensation, would admit a body of troops into the citadel." Don Gutiere turned a scrutinizing eye upon the Moc. "What right have I to believe," said he, "that thou wilt be truer to me, than to those of thy blood and thy religion?" "I renounce all ties to them, either of blood or religion," replied the Moor; "my mother was a christian captive; her country shall henceforth be my country, and her faith my faith."* The doubts of Don Gutiere were not dispelled by this profession of mongrel christianity. Granting the sincerity of thy conversion," said he, "art thou under no obligations of gratitude or duty to the alcayde of the fortress thou wouldst betray? The eyes of the Moor flashed fire at the words; he gnashed his teeth with fury. "The alcayde," cried he, "is a dog! He has deprived my brother of his just share of booty; he has robbed me of my merchandise, treated me worse than a Jew when I murmured at his injustice, and ordered me to be thrust forth ignominiously from his walls. May the Cura de los Palacios, curse of God fall upon my head, if est content until I have full revenge!" "Enough," said Don Gutiere: "I trust more to thy revenge than thy religion." The good clavero called a council of his officers. The knights of Calatrava were unanimous for the enterprise-zealous to appease the manes of their slaughtered comrades. Don Gutiere reminded them of the state of the garrison, enfeebled by their late loss, and scarcely sufficient for the defence of the walls. The cavaliers replied that there was no achievement without risk, and that there would have been no great actions recorded in history, had there not been daring spirits ready to peril life to gain renown. Don Gutiere yielded to the wishes of his knights, for to have resisted any further might have drawn on him the imputation of timidity: he ascertained by trusty spies that every thing in Zalea remained in the usual state, and he made all the requisite arrangements for the attack. When the appointed night arrived, all the cavaliers were anxious to engage in the enterprise; but the individuals were decided by lot. They set out, under the guidance of the Moor; and when they had arrived in the vicinity of Zalea, they bound his hands behind his back, and their leader pledged his knightly word to strike him dead on the first sign of treachery. He then bade him to lead the way. It was near midnight, when they reached the walls of the fortress. They passed silently along until they found themselves below the citadel. Here their guide made a low and preconcerted signal: it was answered from above, and a cord let down from the wall. The knights attached to it a ladder, which was drawn up and fastened. Gutiere Muñoz was the first that mounted, followed by Pedro de Al vanado, both brave and hardy soldiers. A handful succeeded; they were attacked by a party of guards, but held them at bay until more of their comrades ascended; with their assistance, they gained possession of a tower and part of the wall. The garrison, by this time, was aroused; but before they could reach the scene of action, most of the cavaliers were within the battlements. A bloody contest raged for about an hour-several of the christians were slain, but many of the Moors; at length the whole citadel was carried, and the town submitted without resistance. Thus did the gallant knights of Calatrava gain the strong town of Zalea with scarcely any loss, and atone for the inglorious defeat of their companions by El Zagal. They found the magazines of the place well stored with provisions, and were enabled to carry a seasonable supply to their own famishing garrison. The tidings of this event reached the sovereigns, just after the surrender of Cambil and Albahar. They were greatly rejoiced at this additional success of their arms, and immediately sent strong reinforcements and ample supplies for both Alhama and Zalea. They then dismissed the army for the winter. Ferdinand and Isabella retired to Alcala de Henares, where the queen, on the 16th of December, 1485, gave birth to the princess Catharine, afterwards wite of Henry VIII. of England. Thus prosperously terminated the checkered campaign of this important year. CHAPTER XXXV. DEATH OF MULEY ABEN HASSAN. MULEY ABDALLA EL ZAGAL had been received with great acclamations at Granada, on his return A CHRONICLE OF THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA. from defeating the count de Cabra. He had endeavored to turn his victory to the greatest advantage, with his subjects; giving tilts and tournaments, and other public festivities, in which the Moors delighted. The loss of the castles of Cambil and Albahar, and of the fortress of Zalea, however, checked this sudden tide of popularity; and some of the fickle populace began to doubt whether they had not been rather precipitate in deposing his brother, Muley Aben Hassan. That superannuated monarch remained in his faithful town of Almunecar, on the border of the Mediterranean, surrounded by a few adherents, together with his wife Zorayna and his children; and he had all his treasures safe in his possession. The fiery heart of the old king was almost burnt out, and all his powers of doing either harm or good seemed at an end. ures. body of the old monarch was deposited by two No sooner were the populace well assured that In proportion as they ceased to hate old Muley Aben Hassan, they began to hate his brother El Zagal. The circumstances of the old king's death, the eagerness to appropriate his treasures, the scandalous neglect of his corpse, and the imprisonment of his sultana and children, all filled the public mind with gloomy suspicions; and the epithet of Fratracide! was sometimes substituted for that of El Zagal, in the low murmurings of the people. While in this passive and helpless state, his brother El Zagal manifested a sudden anxiety for his health. He had him removed, with all tenderness and care, to Salobreña, another fortress on the Mediterranean coast, famous for its pure and salubrious air; and the alcayde, who was a devoted adherent to El Zagal, As the public must always have some object to was charged to have especial care that nothing was wanting to the comfort and solace of his brother. Salobreña was a small town, situated on a lofty like as well as to hate, there began once more to be and rocky hill, in the midst of a beautiful and fer- an inquiry after their fugitive king, Boabdil el Chico. tile vega, shut up on three sides by mountains, and That unfortunate monarch was still at Cordova, exopening on the fourth to the Mediterranean. It was isting on the cool courtesy and meagre friendship of protected by strong walls and a powerful castle, and, Ferdinand; which had waned exceedingly, ever being deemed impregnable, was often used by the since Boabdil had ceased to have any influence in Moorish kings as a place of deposit for their treas- his late dominions. The reviving interest expressed They were accustomed also to assign it as a in his fate by the Moorish public, and certain secret residence for such of their sons and brothers as overtures made to him, once more aroused the symmight endanger the security of their reign. Here pathy of Ferdinand: he immediately advised Boabdil the princes lived, in luxurious repose: they had de-again to set up his standard within the frontiers of licious gardens, perfumed baths, a harem of beauties Granada, and furnished him with money and means at their command-nothing was denied them but the for the purpose. Boabdil advanced but a little way el Blanco, a strong town on the confines of Murcia; liberty to depart; that alone was wanting to render into his late territories; he took up his post at Velez this abode an earthly paradise. Such was the delightful place appointed by El there he established the shadow of a court, and Zagal for the residence of his brother; but, notwith-stood, as it were, with one foot over the border, and standing its wonderful salubrity, the old monarch ready to draw that back upon the least alarm. His had not been removed thither many days before he presence in the kingdom, however, and his assumpexpired. There was nothing extraordinary in his tion of royal state, gave life to his faction in Granada. death: life with him had long been glimmering in The inhabitants of the Albaycin, the poorest but the socket, and for some time past he might rather most warlike part of the populace, were generally have been numbered with the dead than with the in his favor: the more rich, courtly, and aristocratiliving. The public, however, are fond of seeing cal inhabitants of the quarter of the Alhambra, ralthings in a sinister and mysterious point of view, lied round what appeared to be the most stable and there were many dark surmises as to the cause authority, and supported the throne of El Zagal. So of this event. El Zagal acted in a manner to heighten it is, in the admirable order of sublunary affairs: these suspicions: he caused the treasures of his de-every thing seeks its kind; the rich befriend the rich, ceased brother to be packed on mules and brought the powerful stand by the powerful, the poor enjoy to Granada, where he took possession of them, to the patronage of the poor-and thus a universal the exclusion of the children of Aben Hassan. The harmony prevails. sultana Zorayna and her two sons were lodged in the Alhambra, in the tower of the Cimares. This was a residence in a palace-but it had proved a royal prison to the sultana Ayxa la Horra, and her youthful son Boabdil. There the unhappy Zorayna had time to meditate upon the disappointment of all those ambitious schemes tor herself and children, for which she had stained her conscience with so many crimes, and induced her cruel husband to imbrue his hands in the blood of his other offspring. The corpse of old Muley Aben Hassan was also brought to Granada, not in a state becoming the remains of a once-powerful sovereign, but transported on a mule, like the corpse of the poorest peasant. It received no honor or ceremonial from El Zagal, and appears to have been interred obscurely, to prevent any popular sensation; and it is recorded by an ancient and faithful chronicler of the time, that the CHAPTER XXXVI. OF THE CHRISTIAN ARMY WHICH ASSEMBLED GREAT and glorious was the style with which the * Cura de los Palacios, c. 77. |